Spiders Shoot to Lead With 11-Under at Loyola Intercollegiate
02/16/2025 | Men's Golf
GOODYEAR, Ariz. — The Spiders men's golf team fired one of the 10 lowest rounds in program history to grab a three-shot lead following Round 1 of the 54-hole Loyola Intercollegiate Sunday at Palm Valley Golf Club. Richmond's 11-under 277 equaled the seventh-lowest round ever for the Spiders and gave UR a three-shot lead over Middle Tennessee atop the 19-team field.
Richmond was led by a trio of players who each carded a 4-under 68 Monday: senior Cole Ekert, junior Drew Carlin, and sophomore Quin Polin. All are tied for third in the 116-man field.
Ekert was 1-over par through six holes Monday before playing the final 12 holes in 5-under. A two on the 225-yard par 3 4th, his final hole of the day, was his fifth and final birdie of the round.
Carlin's 4-under was the lowest round of his three-year Spiders career, but the day started inauspiciously, with him having to take an unplayable lie on his first hole and making bogey. "But then I got it going and played the par 5s really nicely and hit a few good wedge shots," he explained. Carlin's 4-under on the par 5s matched the best in the field Sunday.
Polin birdied three of his final four holes to reach 4-under, also the lowest round of his Spiders career.
Freshman Carson Baez is tied for 45th at 1-over par, two shots in front of senior Patrick Isztwan, who's tied for 73rd.
Playing as an individual, sophomore Jack LaPiana is tied for 66th at 2-over par.
Richmond's 11-under par matched its second-round effort at the 2022 VCU Shootout for the seventh-lowest round in program history.
"We are all playing good golf right now so just trying to keep it simple," said Carlin.
Round 2 will begin with a shotgun start at 9:45 AM ET Monday.
Richmond was led by a trio of players who each carded a 4-under 68 Monday: senior Cole Ekert, junior Drew Carlin, and sophomore Quin Polin. All are tied for third in the 116-man field.
Ekert was 1-over par through six holes Monday before playing the final 12 holes in 5-under. A two on the 225-yard par 3 4th, his final hole of the day, was his fifth and final birdie of the round.
Carlin's 4-under was the lowest round of his three-year Spiders career, but the day started inauspiciously, with him having to take an unplayable lie on his first hole and making bogey. "But then I got it going and played the par 5s really nicely and hit a few good wedge shots," he explained. Carlin's 4-under on the par 5s matched the best in the field Sunday.
Polin birdied three of his final four holes to reach 4-under, also the lowest round of his Spiders career.
Freshman Carson Baez is tied for 45th at 1-over par, two shots in front of senior Patrick Isztwan, who's tied for 73rd.
Playing as an individual, sophomore Jack LaPiana is tied for 66th at 2-over par.
Richmond's 11-under par matched its second-round effort at the 2022 VCU Shootout for the seventh-lowest round in program history.
"We are all playing good golf right now so just trying to keep it simple," said Carlin.
Round 2 will begin with a shotgun start at 9:45 AM ET Monday.
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