Wilmington Golf Posts Lowest Round of Season to Win Dennis Rose Intercollegiate

Copyright 2017; Wilmington University. All rights reserved. Photo by Shelly Blunck.
Copyright 2017; Wilmington University. All rights reserved. Photo by Shelly Blunck.

WAIKOLOA, Hawaii - - The Wilmington University golf team posted a fall season's best 282 in the final round of the Dennis Rose Intercollegiate to claim the top spot on the leaderboard and leave Paradise with a victory on Saturday.

The 282-team score is the lowest score for a Wildcats team since they posted a 282 team score in the Goldey-Beacom Fall Invite in 2009. There have only been two better rounds in the Wildcats' history; a 280 in the WilmU Spring Classic in 2011 and a 277 at the Vulcan Invitational in the fall of 2010.

The Wildcats finished the tournament with all three rounds in sub-290, posting scores of 284-289-282 for an 855 (+15). They held off a hard charging host team Hawaii-Hilo who fired a 277 in the third round to claim second place with an 856 (+16).

Junior Ryan Rucinski and freshman Sergio Ronchel Salas paved the way for third round low score, both shooting a 68 (-2). Rucinski's 68 allowed him to finish second overall, moving up two spots on the leaderboard. He finished with a 68-74-68 for a three-round score of 210 (E). Ronchel's 68 (-2) propelled the freshman up the leaderboard by 10 spots, as he finished tied for fifth overall. Ronchel posted scores of 72-74-68 for a 214 (+4).

Senior Joey Russo had his best round of the tournament on Saturday, shooting a 71 to finish with a 218 (+8). He finished the tournament with rounds of 75-72-71 to claim a tie for 16th overall.

Freshman Enrique Valverde rounded out the scoring for the Wildcats on Saturday, posting a 75 in the final round. He shot a 72-69-75 to finish with a 126 (+6) to claim a tie for 10th overall.

Senior Zac Moore closed out the team scoring for the Wildcats, shooting a 72-74-77 for a 223 (+13) for the tournament. He placed in a tie for 23rd overall.

Sophomore Braden McKay was the top individual for the Wildcats, as he finished in a tie for 25th overall with rounds of 78-73-73 for a 224 (+14). Sophomore Matthew Kettleson shot a 77 on Saturday to finish in a tie for 31st overall, posting scores of 78-73-77 for a 228 (+18). Sophomore Jack Dixon rounded out the Wildcats on the course, posting a 76 in the final round to finish in a tie for 33rd overall. He posted rounds of 72-81-76 for a 229 (+19).

Dixie State's Jayce Frampton won medalist honors for the tournament, defeating Rucinski by two strokes. Frampton shot rounds of 70-70-68 for a 208 (-2).

The Wildcats wrap up their fall season at the Golf Week Division II Invite starting on Monday morning. The three round tournament hosted by Nova Southeastern will be help at the Trump National Doral Golf Club in Miami, Florida.