Freshman Joey Russo charged up the leaderboard at the Dr. Edwin B. Cottrell Invitational on Monday, earning medalist honors while leading the Wilmington University golf team to a second place finish in the final regular season tournament of the year.
Held at the Penn Oaks Golf Club with a par 71, Russo moved from a tie for third after the first round to win his first collegiate tournament of his career. He posted a 73-71 for a two round score of 144 (+3). He finished four strokes ahead of the field.
Sophomore Sam Clark was the second finisher for the Wildcats on Monday, shooting a 77 to finish in a tie for 31st overall. Senior Alexander Lautenschlaeger posted 78 on Monday to finish in a tie for 26th overall, finishing with a 79-78 for a 157.
Juniors Andreas Lunding and Jordan Lamb finished Monday with identical 79's as Lunding finished in a tie for 14th overall with a 75-79 for a 154. Lamb finished in a tie for 26th overall, finishing the tournament with a 78-79 for a 157.
The Wildcats posted a 305 on Monday for the second day in a row, finishing the tournament with a 610 to place second overall. They moved up from third after the first round, but couldn't leapfrog host West Chester who posted a 302-303 for a two-day score of 605 to finish first.
Russo beat West Chester's Ryan Fogel and Gannon's Matt Barto by four strokes as they both finished in a tie for second overall with a score of 148.
The Wildcats will take the second place finish into the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Tournament next week as they look to defend their Tournament Crown for the fourth season in a row. The Wildcats will try for their fifth straight CACC Tournament title starting on Tuesday, April 21 at Blue Bell Country Club in Blue Bell, Pa.