Spiders, Ekert Win Weather-Shortened AGT Collegiate

Monday, April 1

Pawleys Island, SC

8:35 AM

University of Richmond

Any Given Tuesday Collegiate

The members of the Spiders men's golf team posed with trophies on a green following their win at the AGT Collegiate

04/03/2024 | Men's Golf

Results

PAWLEYS ISLAND, S.C. — After heavy rains prevented completion of the final round, the Richmond Spiders were crowned champions of the Any Given Tuesday Collegiate Wednesday. Spiders junior Cole Ekert won individual medalist honors, recording the second win of his collegiate career.

Richmond was about halfway through the final round when the skies opened at True Blue Golf Club. When tournament officials determined that the weather would prevent completion of the round, scores reverted to where they stood before play began Wednesday, with Richmond holding a one-shot lead over Long Island and Valparaiso and Ekert atop the individual leaderboard.

"I was thinking it was probably 50-50 if we play all 18 or didn't finish. I knew it wasn't going to be pretty based on the weather forecast, so I just gave my best effort on every shot today," said Ekert. "I knew par was a good score so my goal was to try to make no bogies and force other guys to make birdies to make up shots. My game plan wasn't any different. I knew birdies would be tougher to make, but I tried to hit it in all the same spots I had the first two rounds. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't hoping the tournament director canceled the round when we were forced off the course due to weather!"

The Spiders win was their first since the 2021 VCU Shootout and their 11th tournament title under coach Adam Decker.

"The lineup seems to be ever-changing and has kept things very competitive at home. That's great for our development and means that guys need to stay sharp," said Decker. "It was a great effort by the team. Cole put the team on his back yesterday and we were able to overcome a big first-round deficit. I'm really proud of the guys for hanging in and getting the team win."

Richmond finished at 6-under par after shooting an even-par 288 Monday and a 6-under 282 Tuesday. The 19-team field is the largest in an event won by the Spiders since the 2006 Towson invitational (23).

"I think we were all very confident going into today because everyone was playing some great golf, but it was still a very relaxing feeling to hear that the round was done and we'd won," said Ekert.

Ekert's 66 (-6) Tuesday, tied for the fifth-lowest round in program history, propelled him to his second career win along with last year's RedHawk Intercollegiate. He is the seventh player in program history to win multiple events, joining Danny Pizetoski, Jordan Utley, Joe Horowitz, Ken Macdonald, Steve Jamroz, and Rob Gai.

"It's awesome. Finishing well is nice, but for all of us, winning is the ultimate goal," said Ekert. "So to be able to get a second win is a great feeling and I'm really happy with how my game has grown at college. I've got to give a ton of credit to my teammates for being studs every day and pushing us all forward. And also, Coach Decker deserves a ton of credit. He does so much for us players to improve and enjoy our time at Richmond, and I don't think we show our appreciation to him enough. He's also taught me so much about golf and my game specifically, so I wouldn't be where I am without him."

With the win, Richmond earned a spot in the 2025 Augusta Haskins Award Invitational hosted by Augusta University.

Lou Baker led the rest of the Richmond lineup with a 15-place finish at 1-under (143). Freshman Jack LaPiana placed one shot behind at even-par (144), tied for 24th.

Senior Garrett Clark tied for 66th at 6-over par (150), just in front of freshman Owen Pearce, who finished 7-over par (151), tied for 72nd.

Freshman Parker Moellinger competed as an individual and tied for 86th at 10-over par (154).

Richmond has two events remaining on its schedule: the Wofford Intercollegiate on April 15-16 and the Atlantic 10 Championship in Orlando, Fla. on April 26-28.