University of Richmond
Atlantic 10 Championship
Spiders (2nd), Walker (3rd) Have Best-Ever Atlantic 10 Championship Showing
05/02/2010 | Men's Golf
May 2, 2010
HOWEY-IN-THE-HILLS, Fla. - Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year Daniel Walker placed third for the Spiders' best-ever individual finish at the A-10 Championship and Richmond's runner-up finish was its best in nine seasons in the league.
After leading the Spiders to their best finish in nine A-10 Championships, fifth-year head coach Adam Decker was named Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year. The Spiders had finished third at three Atlantic 10 Championships, including last spring.
"The guys put a lot of hard work in throughout the year. We're excited about the finish but the goal was to win so it gives us a lot of motivation," Decker said. "To have three players finish in the top-10, making All-Conference is very impressive."
Walker finished in sole possession of third place, the highest a Spider placed at the Atlantic 10 Championship, becoming the first Spider to earn A-10 Rookie of the Year honors. His third-place finish was the highest finish by an A-10 freshman at the Championship since Virginia Tech's Matt Hollerbach placed second overall in 2000.
"This honor means a lot and now I have something to build on and improve upon over the next three years at Richmond," said Walker.
It was Walker's fourth top-5 finish in eight collegiate tournaments and his fifth top-10 finish.
"We had expectations for Daniel to step right in and contribute as a freshman, but he surpassed them," Decker said. "He capped off a great freshman year, ."
Walker was named Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year and was one of three Spiders to earn A-10 All-Conference honors. Joining Walker on the All-Conference team was senior Robert Lindstrom, who tied for fourth and junior Sam Beach, who tied for seventh.
 Senior Robert Lindstrom tied for fourth to earn All-Atlantic 10 honors.  |
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Walker shot a 3-over-par 74 in the final round to finish at 2-over 215, four shots behind Charlotte's Olafur Loftsson for second and six shots behind Charlotte's Corey Nagy for first. Walker opened the tournament with a 2-under 69 on Friday and shot a 1-over 72 in Saturday's second round.
Lindstrom tied for fourth at 5-over-par 218. Lindstrom opened the tournament with a 1-over 72, shot even-par 71 in the second round and a 75 in Sunday's final round.
 Junior Sam Beach tied for seventh to give the Spiders three All-Conference performers. |
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Beach tied for seventh at 8-over-par 221 to give the Spiders three All-Atlantic 10 honorees for just the second time. Beach shot a 74 in the first round, 1-over 72 in the second round and a 75 in the final round.
Richmond freshman Nick Austin tied for 18th at 18-over 231 (77-75-79) and junior Michael Shrader tied for 32nd at 20-over 233 (82-76-75).
This was the Spiders fifth top-3 finish of the year, including their third as tournament runner-up. Richmond won the Liberty Invitational and was runner-up at the Missouri Tiger Invitational and the Big 5 Invitational.
"I'm really happy with the efforts of the guys and looking forward to next year," Decker said.
