University of Richmond Athletics
Monday, March 9
Southern Pines, NC
8:15 AM
University of Richmond
at
Babygrande Donald Ross Collegiate Classic
Back-to-Back! Spiders Win Second Straight Event at Donald Ross Collegiate
03/11/2026 | Men's Golf
SOUTHERN PINES, N.C. — The Richmond Spiders captured their second straight tournament title and third of the season with a late rally to win the 20-team Babygrande Donald Ross Collegiate Classic Wednesday at Mid-Pines Golf Club. Richmond finished at 6-under par (858), three shots in front of A-10 rival and tournament host George Mason in a field that included eight Atlantic 10 teams.
It's Richmond's first back-to-back wins in 21 seasons under coach Adam Decker and UR's 15th tournament title during his tenure.
"Great week - it's amazing to think it's the first back-to-back team wins," said Decker. "The guys have done a great job the last three events of getting into contention for the final round. The course played really tough today, with gusty winds. It took a lot of patience and discipline to hit the shots required."
Richmond entered the day at 8-under par, one shot behind George Washington, who slipped into a tie for third at 2-under par Wednesday. The Spiders clinched the win with some clutch play down the stretch.
"I'm super proud of how the guys finished today," said Decker. "Some other teams were making runs and they collectively finished the last five holes in 2-under. This was another true team effort."
No putt was more clutch than the 11-foot birdie putt buried by sophomore Carson Baez on the 18th hole. Not only did it clinch the team win for the Spiders, it moved him into a tie for first on the individual leaderboard at 6-under par (210). After a bogey on hole 17 dropped him down the leaderboard, "I knew what I had to do," said Baez.
"I knew it was in the cup before I hit it, and sure enough it was dead center," said Baez, who set a program scoring record of 17-under par en route to winning the Loyola Intercollegiate in Arizon in his last start. "I've become so much more comfortable in these situations to clutch up, it's what I live for."
Up next for Baez was a three-way playoff with Bowling Green's Pedro Garcia and Carson Looney of VCU.
"The playoff was another great opportunity with another good look for birdie, but I just misread it," said Baez. "[Garcia] had a simple putt to win, and drained it. Nothing I could do about that, I was just proud of what I was able to do."
In three events this spring, Baez now has a runner-up finish (Lake Jovita Invitational), a win (Loyola Intercollegiate), and a tie for first (Donald Ross Collegiate Classic). "It's fun to watch," said Decker of Baez's recent stretch.
Freshman Lucas Rizo-Patron finished tied for ninth at 3-under par (213) after a second straight round of 1-over (73). It was Rizo-Patron's first top-10 finish of the season.
Senior Drew Carlin also shot 1-over for a second straight day Wednesday, finishing the tournament in a tie for 22nd at 2-over par (218). It was also Carlin's top finish of the year.
Junior Quin Polin tied for 32nd at 4-over par (220), and junior Parker Moellinger tied for 68th at 9-over par (225).
This is Richmond's third win this season, giving the Spiders three wins in a season for the first time since the 2000-01 campaign (Naval Invitational, Liberty Classic, Golden Horseshoe).
The Spiders will be back in action at UNCW's Seahawk Intercollegiate March 30-31, in Wilmington, N.C.
It's Richmond's first back-to-back wins in 21 seasons under coach Adam Decker and UR's 15th tournament title during his tenure.
"Great week - it's amazing to think it's the first back-to-back team wins," said Decker. "The guys have done a great job the last three events of getting into contention for the final round. The course played really tough today, with gusty winds. It took a lot of patience and discipline to hit the shots required."
Richmond entered the day at 8-under par, one shot behind George Washington, who slipped into a tie for third at 2-under par Wednesday. The Spiders clinched the win with some clutch play down the stretch.
"I'm super proud of how the guys finished today," said Decker. "Some other teams were making runs and they collectively finished the last five holes in 2-under. This was another true team effort."
No putt was more clutch than the 11-foot birdie putt buried by sophomore Carson Baez on the 18th hole. Not only did it clinch the team win for the Spiders, it moved him into a tie for first on the individual leaderboard at 6-under par (210). After a bogey on hole 17 dropped him down the leaderboard, "I knew what I had to do," said Baez.
"I knew it was in the cup before I hit it, and sure enough it was dead center," said Baez, who set a program scoring record of 17-under par en route to winning the Loyola Intercollegiate in Arizon in his last start. "I've become so much more comfortable in these situations to clutch up, it's what I live for."
Up next for Baez was a three-way playoff with Bowling Green's Pedro Garcia and Carson Looney of VCU.
"The playoff was another great opportunity with another good look for birdie, but I just misread it," said Baez. "[Garcia] had a simple putt to win, and drained it. Nothing I could do about that, I was just proud of what I was able to do."
In three events this spring, Baez now has a runner-up finish (Lake Jovita Invitational), a win (Loyola Intercollegiate), and a tie for first (Donald Ross Collegiate Classic). "It's fun to watch," said Decker of Baez's recent stretch.
Freshman Lucas Rizo-Patron finished tied for ninth at 3-under par (213) after a second straight round of 1-over (73). It was Rizo-Patron's first top-10 finish of the season.
Senior Drew Carlin also shot 1-over for a second straight day Wednesday, finishing the tournament in a tie for 22nd at 2-over par (218). It was also Carlin's top finish of the year.
Junior Quin Polin tied for 32nd at 4-over par (220), and junior Parker Moellinger tied for 68th at 9-over par (225).
This is Richmond's third win this season, giving the Spiders three wins in a season for the first time since the 2000-01 campaign (Naval Invitational, Liberty Classic, Golden Horseshoe).
The Spiders will be back in action at UNCW's Seahawk Intercollegiate March 30-31, in Wilmington, N.C.
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
Men's Golf Weekend Preview
Friday, March 06
Richmond Men's Golf
Tuesday, July 08
Men's Golf Making a Run
Monday, March 31
Men's Golf Championship Preview
Thursday, April 25