Spiders Advance to Championship Match at The Match Play
02/10/2025 | Men's Golf
DADE CITY, Fla. — After sailing past Central Michigan in Monday's morning's quarterfinals, the Richmond Spiders men's golf team nipped Loyola Chicago in the semifinals Monday afternoon to advance to the championship match at The Match Play. Richmond will face Ball State in Tuesday's final at Lake Jovita Golf & Country Club.
Richmond opened Monday with a 6-0 sweep of Central Michigan. Only one of the six matches advanced to the 18th hole, with Drew Carlin holding on for a 1-up win. The Spiders received a boost from the back end of their lineup, with No. 5 Quin Polin winning 7&6 and No. 6 Jack LaPiana winning 6&5.
The Spiders faced Atlantic 10 rival Loyola Chicago in the semifinals. The outcome was in doubt until the final holes, as three of the six matches went the distance. But Patrick Isztwan made birdie on the par-5 2nd hole to hold on for a 1-up win and Jack LaPiana won the par-3 7th hole with a par, winning his match 1-up and sealing a 4-2 win for the Spiders.
"I didn't exactly know the situation with our team but a lot of the guys who'd finished their matches were out watching me so I figured it mattered. I didn't want to check, I just tried to play the hole the best I could," said Isztwan of his approach to his final hole of the day. Isztwan was able to find the green with his second shot and two-putted from 50 feet for birdie, while his opponent missed a 20-foot eagle putt that would have halved the match.
"I had a feeling that if I won my match it would be big for the overall score but I wasn't sure. I was just trying to play my own game and keep the pressure on my opponent," said LaPiana of his approach to the par-3 7th hole, his final hole of the day. "I was able to knock it on the green and two putt, forcing my opponent to make par, which luckily he didn't."
Richmond also received points from Cole Ekert (4&3) and Quin Polin (5&4) Monday afternoon as the Spiders earned a matchup against host Ball State, who beat Evansville and Dayton Monday.
Tuesday's championship match will begin with a shotgun start at 8:30 AM.
Richmond opened Monday with a 6-0 sweep of Central Michigan. Only one of the six matches advanced to the 18th hole, with Drew Carlin holding on for a 1-up win. The Spiders received a boost from the back end of their lineup, with No. 5 Quin Polin winning 7&6 and No. 6 Jack LaPiana winning 6&5.
The Spiders faced Atlantic 10 rival Loyola Chicago in the semifinals. The outcome was in doubt until the final holes, as three of the six matches went the distance. But Patrick Isztwan made birdie on the par-5 2nd hole to hold on for a 1-up win and Jack LaPiana won the par-3 7th hole with a par, winning his match 1-up and sealing a 4-2 win for the Spiders.
"I didn't exactly know the situation with our team but a lot of the guys who'd finished their matches were out watching me so I figured it mattered. I didn't want to check, I just tried to play the hole the best I could," said Isztwan of his approach to his final hole of the day. Isztwan was able to find the green with his second shot and two-putted from 50 feet for birdie, while his opponent missed a 20-foot eagle putt that would have halved the match.
"I had a feeling that if I won my match it would be big for the overall score but I wasn't sure. I was just trying to play my own game and keep the pressure on my opponent," said LaPiana of his approach to the par-3 7th hole, his final hole of the day. "I was able to knock it on the green and two putt, forcing my opponent to make par, which luckily he didn't."
Richmond also received points from Cole Ekert (4&3) and Quin Polin (5&4) Monday afternoon as the Spiders earned a matchup against host Ball State, who beat Evansville and Dayton Monday.
Tuesday's championship match will begin with a shotgun start at 8:30 AM.
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