University of Richmond Athletics
Spiders Go Low, High in Round 1 at A-10 Championship
04/30/2021 | Men's Golf
ORLANDO, Fla. -- The Richmond Spiders are in sixth place through 18 holes at the Atlantic 10 Men's Golf Championship after posting a team score of 300 (+12) Friday on the Nicklaus Course at Reunion Resort and Golf Club. Richmond combined to make 21 birdies -- three more than any other team in the field of 10 -- but the Spiders also made double bogey or worse 10 times, including five on holes 1-4.
"We need to minimize a few mistakes around the greens. ... I think we could eliminate a couple of double bogeys that way," said coach Adam Decker. "We're going to gather up tonight and figure out where we lost some shots and figure out how we can eliminate some of the bigger numbers."Â
"They are really small greens. So if you can hit the green you're going to have a good look, but if you're missing the greens you're going to have a tough time getting up and down," said sophomore Ben Cooper, who led the Spiders with a 2-over 74 and is currently tied for 10th in the field of 51. Cooper birdied holes 13, 15, and 16 to get to 1-under par before making a triple-bogey 7 on the 17th hole to fall back to 2-over.
Cooper is one shot in front of teammates Michael Baker and Lou Baker, who are part of a group tied for 17th at 75 (+3). Michael Baker made two birdies, two double bogeys and a bogey on Friday to go along with 13 pars, tied for third-most in the field. Lou Baker played the par 5s in 3-under par, tied for best of any golfer.Â
Freshman Garrett Clark is tied for 23rd at 4-over par. Clark recorded five birdies, tied with teammates Ben Cooper, Lou Baker, and others for second-most in the field.Â
Junior Michael Childress is tied for 31st at 77 (+5). Childress played his final 16 holes in 1-over par after opening with a pair of double bogeys.Â
As a team, the Spiders 300 are one shot behind VCU and George Mason, who are tied for fourth at 299 (+11) and will be paired with the Spiders on Saturday, with tee times for the flight starting at 12:00 PM.
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"We need to minimize a few mistakes around the greens. ... I think we could eliminate a couple of double bogeys that way," said coach Adam Decker. "We're going to gather up tonight and figure out where we lost some shots and figure out how we can eliminate some of the bigger numbers."Â
"They are really small greens. So if you can hit the green you're going to have a good look, but if you're missing the greens you're going to have a tough time getting up and down," said sophomore Ben Cooper, who led the Spiders with a 2-over 74 and is currently tied for 10th in the field of 51. Cooper birdied holes 13, 15, and 16 to get to 1-under par before making a triple-bogey 7 on the 17th hole to fall back to 2-over.
Cooper is one shot in front of teammates Michael Baker and Lou Baker, who are part of a group tied for 17th at 75 (+3). Michael Baker made two birdies, two double bogeys and a bogey on Friday to go along with 13 pars, tied for third-most in the field. Lou Baker played the par 5s in 3-under par, tied for best of any golfer.Â
Freshman Garrett Clark is tied for 23rd at 4-over par. Clark recorded five birdies, tied with teammates Ben Cooper, Lou Baker, and others for second-most in the field.Â
Junior Michael Childress is tied for 31st at 77 (+5). Childress played his final 16 holes in 1-over par after opening with a pair of double bogeys.Â
As a team, the Spiders 300 are one shot behind VCU and George Mason, who are tied for fourth at 299 (+11) and will be paired with the Spiders on Saturday, with tee times for the flight starting at 12:00 PM.
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