Balanced Effort Spurs Spiders at Nemacolin Collegiate

Monday, September 30

Farmington, PA

8:30 AM

University of Richmond

Nemacolin Collegiate Invitational

Patrick Isztwan addresses his ball on the teebox

Balanced Effort Spurs Spiders at Nemacolin Collegiate

10/01/2024 | Men's Golf

Results

FARMINGTON, Pa. — The Richmond Spiders men's golf team placed fourth at the 54-hole Nemacolin Collegiate Invitational Tuesday as all five members of the team finished in the top third of the 76-man field.

After darkness prevented the finish of Round 2 Monday evening, Richmond wrapped up its second 18 with a team score 6-over par (294) Tuesday morning, an eight-shot improvement from Round 1. The Spiders would go even lower in the third and final round, combining for a team score of 1-over par (289) to tie Penn State for fourth place in the field of 15 at 21-over par (885).

"I thought the team played solid," said coach Adam Decker. "We need to clean up some putting stuff and wedge shot opportunities, but there was a lot of good this week."

Senior Patrick Isztwan led the Spiders with a total of 219 (3-over par), placing 11th for the best finish of his collegiate career. Isztwan's 3-under 69 in the final round was his second-lowest round as a Spider, trailing only a 5-under 67 in Round 2 of last year's VCU Shootout.

"The conditions were very tough in Rounds 1 and 2, with lots of rain. I didn't handle it as well as I would've liked in Round 1," said Isztwan. "By Round 3 the rain stopped, so we were able to play more of our normal games. I was happy to be able to help the team out a little, especially after my first round."

"I'm really proud of Patrick," added Decker. "He was steady and played some great golf in very difficult weather conditions."

Senior Cole Ekert tied for 13th at 5-over par (221) after rounds of 74, 73, and 74. It was Ekert's second top-13 result in two events this season after he tied for sixth at UR's season-opening Golfweek Fall Challenge.

Freshman Carson Baez was one shot back at 6-over par in a tie for 16th. His 1-over 73 Tuesday afternoon was his low round of the tournament.

Junior Drew Carlin and sophomore Owen Pearce were among a group of six golfers to tie for 25th at 9-over par (225). Pearce secured the first top-25 result of his Spiders career, while Carlin placed in the top 30 for the seventh time in his last nine events dating back to last season.

The Spiders will return to Pennsylvania on October 14-15 for the RedHawk Intercollegiate in Pittsburgh, Pa.