Spiders tie lowest score in program history at VCU Shootout

Monday, September 12

RICHMOND, VA

8:30 AM

University of Richmond

VCU Shootout

Spiders tie lowest score in program history at VCU Shootout

09/13/2022 | Men's Golf

RESULTS Photo Gallery

RICHMOND, Va. -- The Spiders men's golf team went low for a second straight round Tuesday at the VCU Shootout on the Creek Course at the Country Club of Virginia, posting a team score of 10-under par to finish the 54-hole event at 24-under par (840), tied for the lowest team tournament score in program history. Richmond's score, which matched the program record 24-under par the team shot en route to winning the 2017 A-10 Championship, was fifth-best among the 14 teams competing at VCU's season-opening event.

UR's 10-under in Tuesday's Round 3 is the sixth-lowest single-round score in team history, just behind the 11-under the team posted in Round 2 on Monday afternoon. This is the first time ever Richmond has shot 10-under on better in multiple rounds in the same event. The Spiders moved five spots up the leaderboard Tuesday to finish in fifth place after being in front of just two teams following Monday morning's opening round.

"I'm proud of how they hung in there after a slow start to Monday's first round," said coach Adam Decker. "The only difference that I could see was just not as many putts fell in the first round, but the guys know that they are very capable and kept a level head to fight their way up the leaderboard."

Senior Ben Cooper tied the lowest round of his career with a 5-under 67 Tuesday to finish the event at 206 (-10), tied for the second-lowest individual tournament score in program history, trailing only Daniel Walker's 204 (-12) at Golden Eagle in 2013. Cooper played his final 11 holes in 6-under par in Round 3 to climb into a tie for 10th on the individual leaderboard. It is the first top-10 finish of Cooper's career.

"We all feel so comfortable playing [the Creek Course] that it gave us all confidence that we could have a strong finish," said Cooper. "For me personally I felt like I left a bunch of shots out there yesterday so I felt like if I stayed patient today they would come."

Cooper finished one shot in front of sophomore Cole Ekert, who shot 3-under Tuesday and finished tied for 14th. Grad student Michael Childress and junior Garrett Clark both carded 1-under 71s Tuesday to finish the event tied for 37th (2-under 214) and tied for 42nd (even-par 216), respectively. Senior Lou Baker tied for 58th at 3-over par (219).

Richmond will return to action on September 24-25 when the Spiders participate in the Macdonald Cup hosted by Yale in New Haven, Conn.