Spiders Lose Tiebreaker, Place Second at The Match Play

Monday, February 10

Dade City, FL

8:30 AM

University of Richmond

The Match Play

Cole Ekert holds his follow through on an approach shot

Spiders Lose Tiebreaker, Place Second at The Match Play

02/11/2025 | Men's Golf

Results

DADE CITY, Fla. — The Richmond Spiders men's golf team lost a tiebreaker to Ball State in the championship match of The Match Play Tuesday, giving the Cardinals their third straight win in the event. Richmond and Ball State tied the final match with a score of 3-3, but the Cardinals were declared winners after amassing a greater total margin of victory.

"It's tough to swallow losing to a tiebreaker, but that's how it goes sometimes," said Spiders coach Adam Decker.

The final match to be decided was between Richmond's Patrick Isztwan and Ball State's Gavin Hare. The duo stood on the ninth tee, their final hole of the day, all square. Ball State led the match 3.5-2.5, meaning that Isztwan needed to win the hole in order to give Richmond a chance. Not that the Spiders senior wanted to know it.

"I didn't check the scores down the stretch but I assumed it was important for me to win," said Isztwan of the final hole. "My opponent hit it out of bounds off the tee so I was able to play a little safer and win the hole, which was nice because I was very nervous."

Isztwan (1-up), Cole Ekert (2&1), and Quin Polin (3&2) earned points for Richmond Tuesday, but Ball State posted wins of 1-up, 3&1, and 3&2 to edge the Spiders in the margin of victory tiebreaker.

"I thought we had won walking off the green, but coach and [assistant coach Michael Childress] came down and told me we lost in a tiebreaker so I think they already knew. Tough way to lose but we played great so I am excited to see how the rest of the spring plays out," said Isztwan, who was one of three Spiders to win all three of his matches over the last two days along with Ekert and Polin, who didn't need more than 16 holes to win each of his three matches.

Richmond's runner-up finish its first top-two result since winning the Any Given Tuesday Collegiate last April.

"The team played very solid golf this week. I saw some great shots under pressure," said Decker. "It's disappointing, but also motivating at the same time. We have a quick turnaround for the next tournament, which I think is a good thing for this group. Put this one behind us and focus on next week."

Richmond will return to action next week at the 54-hole Loyola Intercollegiate, which will be held at Palm Valley Golf Club in Goodyear, Ariz. from Sunday to Tuesday.