Champs! Spiders Set Records on Way to A-10 Championship

Monday, April 27

Orlando, FL

8:15 AM

University of Richmond

Atlantic 10 Championship

Members of the Richmond men's golf team pose with a trophy on the green

Champs! Spiders Set Records on Way to A-10 Championship

04/29/2026 | Men's Golf

Results

Rizo-Patron Captures Individual Medalist Honors

ORLANDO, Fla. — Trailing by four strokes entering the final round, Richmond needed to be at its best in Round 3 of the A-10 Championship Wednesday at Evermore Resort. The Spiders responded by combining to shoot 15-under par, matching the lowest single round in program history, to roar past 36-hole leader George Mason and capture the Atlantic 10 men's golf title for the first time since 2017.

"I can't say enough about the way the guys played as a team," said Spiders coach Adam Decker. "Everyone was asking about their teammates and giving encouragement on the course. It takes everyone 100% bought in to achieve a championship."

Richmond finished at 14-under par (850), 10 shots in front of runner-up George Mason and 15 shots clear of third-place VCU. It's Richmond's second Atlantic 10 team championship, along with 2017, and the fifth conference title in program history.

The win was Richmond's fourth tournament title this season, the most in a single season in program history. UR also won the season-opening Metropolis Intercollegiate, the Loyola Intercollegiate in February, and the Donald Ross Collegiate Classic in March.

Freshman Lucas Rizo-Patron won individual medalist honors after shooting a 6-under 66 Wednesday to finish the event at 13-under par (203), matching the second lowest tournament score in program history. He is the second Spider to win an individual conference championship in the last 35 years, joining Danny Pizetoski in 2014.

Rizo-Patron, who had three top-20 finishes this season entering the A-10 Championship but hadn't finished better than ninth, said he wasn't surprised by the result.

"I had a bunch of ups and downs this season, but I was always working really hard. I think this week was the culmination of all of that hard work," said Rizo-Patron. "The whole week was an awesome team experience."

Rizo-Patron entered the day with a one-shot lead but quickly gave himself more breathing room with four birdies in his first six holes. He added birdies on holes 12, 13, 15, and 16 on the back nine to shoot a 6-under 66, equaling the sixth-best round in program history.

"Lucas was fantastic this week, so calm and steady in his rounds," said Decker. "He works incredibly hard, and this win was earned not just this week, but throughout the entire season. It was so much fun to watch him out there. He was very much in control of his golf ball with windy conditions in the early rounds. He didn't look like a freshman out there!"

Rizo-Patron made a six-foot par putt on the 18^th hole to secure a four-stroke win over runner-up Carson Looney from VCU.

"I really knew my game this week. I knew where to hit it and where my misses were and was mentally really solid," added Rizo-Patron. "Everyone was having fun and had a really good vibe for the whole week leading up to it."

Rizo-Patron's brilliance was equaled by Carson Baez on Wednesday, as the Spiders' sophomore made six birdies and 12 pars for his own 6-under 66. Baez moved up nine spots on the individual leaderboard, finishing the event in third place at 6-under par (210). It was his team-leading sixth top-10 finish in 11 events this season.

Junior Quin Polin joined Rizo-Patron and Baez in the top five, firing a 4-under 68 in Round 3 to finish at 5-under par (211), tied for fourth place. It was Polin's fifth event this season finishing in the top six on the individual leaderboard.

Junior Jack LaPiana posted a 1-over 73 on Wednesday to finish in 42^nd place at 10-over par (226). Senior Drew Carlin shot a 2-over 74, offsetting four bogeys with two birdies.

Richmond's 15-under par in Round 3 equaled its opening-round score at the 2017 Atlantic 10 Championship for the lowest tournament rounds in Spiders history. After opening with an 8-over 296 Monday, the Spiders shot a combined 22-under in Rounds 2 and 3, 16 shots better than any other team in the field of 12.

"What a week. I'm extremely proud of the guys for not letting a tough first round get them down. They showed a lot of resilience and played a great second round to get into contention for the final round," said Decker. "It's been something we've talked about all season, just get into a spot where you are playing the final round with a chance. And this makes four times they've responded and come out on top. Amazing!"

The Spiders will find out which of the six NCAA Regional sites they will be competing at on May 18-20 during the NCAA Men's Golf Championship Selection Show on Wednesday, May 6, at 2 PM, airing on the Golf Channel.