MIDDLETOWN, Del. - - Junior Ryan Rucinski shot a one under par score to lead the Wilmington University golf team to an 18-stroke lead after the first round of the 2017 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Championship at the Back Creek Golf Course on Sunday afternoon.
All five Wildcats are in the top five following the first round of play, as Rucinski is the lone golfer to shoot under-par in the first round. Joey Russo and Braden McKay are tied for third after shooting a 72 (+1) while Zach Moore and Enrique Valverde are tied for fifth after posting a 73 (+2) on the first day.
Rucinski got himself back to even with a birdie on the par five fifth but a double bogey on the par three eighth put him back to two-over par. The junior rebounded with a birdie on the par four ninth, making the turn with a 36 (+1). After a par on the 10th hole, Rucinski's approach on the par five 11th closed to within a few feet of the hole, and he sunk the putt for an eagle. He sank pars for the rest of the round, finishing with a 70 (-1).
Russo birdied the par three eighth, the par four 10th, and the par five 11th, but four bogeys put him at 72 (+1). McKay also sank three birdies in his first round, but also had three bogeys to sit at his 72 (+1). Moore and Valverde also finished the round with three birdies in the round, but Moore came away with five bogeys while Valverde had three bogeys and a double in his first action as a Wildcat.
Concordia sits in second after posting a 305 (+21) while Post rounds out the top three with a 307 (+23). The Clippers Evan Hong is in second overall, shooting a 71, even par on Sunday. Dominican's Leonard Lee and Chestnut Hill's Tyler Marchese each shot a 73 (+2) to round out all the players in the top five.
The Wildcats will be looking to capture their eighth consecutive CACC Championship with another good round on Monday afternoon. The second and final round of the CACC will kick off at 8:00 a.m. with a shotgun start.
AGATE:
2017 CACC Championships – Round 1
1. Wilmington – 287 (+3)
2. Concordia – 305 (+21)
3. Post – 307 (+23)
4. Dominican – 308 (+24)
5. Chestnut Hill – 310 (+26)
6. Goldey-Beacom – 313 (+29)
T7. Jefferson – 323 (+39)
T7. USciences – 323 (+39)
9. Felician – 324 (+40)
