Ryan Rucinski Wins Individual Title on Second Playoff Hole as Wilmington Golf Captures Coach Carpenter Classic

Ryan Rucinski Wins Individual Title on Second Playoff Hole as Wilmington Golf Captures Coach Carpenter Classic

Copyright 2016; Wilmington University. All rights reserved. File photo of Ryan Rucinski

CROFTON, Md. - - The Wilmington University golf team held off a hard charging St. Thomas Aquinas team in the third round of the Coach Carpenter Classic on Tuesday afternoon, shooting a 315 to win the tournament by six strokes as the Crofton Country Club.

Teammates Ryan Rucinski and Joey Russo finished atop the leaderboard at the end of the third round, forcing a two-man playoff to determine an individual champion. Rucinski defeated Russo on the second playoff to earn his first collegiate individual title of his career. Rucinski lost on the fourth playoff hole of the GBC Fall Invite.

Rucinski paced four Wildcats that finished in the top 20, shooting a 74-74-76 for a 224 (+8). Russo was playing as an individual for the tournament, shooting a 76-74-74 for his 224 (+8).

Miguel Siercke finished in a tie for third overall, shooting a 72-77-76 for a 225 (+9), one stroke off the lead. Sam Clark finished in a tie for 16th overall with a 74-79-83, shooting a 236 for a +20. Freddy Braun shot an 80 on Tuesday to finish in a tie for 19th overall, shooting a 75-82-80 for a 237 (+21). Troy Miller rounded out the Wildcats with a 79-76-85 for a 240 (+24), finishing in a tie for 24th overall.

Jordan Lamb rounded out the Wildcats by finishing in 32nd overall, shooting a 78-84-80 for a 242 (+26), playing as an individual.

Rucinski and Russo finished second in the tournament by finishing one-under par on the par five holes. Siercke led the way by finishing four-over on the par four holes while Rucinski was second at five-over. Siercke sank a tournament best 13 birdies while Russo hit 10 birdies.

The Wildcats return to action next Monday, April 4 as they make their annual trip to Miami Beach, Fla., to compete in the Buccaneer Invitational. The three rounds will be completed at the Normandy Shores Golf Club hosted by Barry University.