MIAMI BEACH, Fla. - - The Wilmington University golf team shot nine strokes fewer in the second round of the Battle at the Shores hosted by Barry University, posting rounds of 309 and 300 for a 609 (+41) to sit in 14th on Monday played at the Normandy Shores Golf Club.
The tournament features six Top-10 nationally ranked teams and eight nationally ranked opponents overall. The Wildcats are above the other team teams form the East Region, sitting in 14th out of 18 teams.
Sergio Ronchel led the Wildcats with a 147 (+5) in two rounds, sitting in a tie for 31st overall. He improved his second round by five strokes, shooting a 76 (+5) followed by a 71, even par round. His second round consisted of four birdies and four bogeys, as he is tied for 11th overall in the tournament at -3 scoring total on the par five holes. His eight birdies at tied for 10th most in the first two rounds.
Zac Moore led the Wildcats with an opening round 73 (+2) and followed it up with a second round 76, shooting a 149 to sit in a tie for 40th overall. In the first round, Moore only committed one bogey, shooting par on the other eight holes. He hit two birdies on the back nine, but committed three bogeys.
Joey Russo improved his second round by three strokes, shooting a 79-76 for a 155 (+13) to sit in a tie for 67th overall. Russo hit four birdies in the second, including a birdie on his final hole (the sixth), to finish with a 37 (+2) on the front nine.
Enrique Valverde rounded out the Wildcats' score in the first round with an 81, including an eagle on the par five third hole. He shot a 78 in the second round to finish with a 159 (+17) to sit in a tie for 76th overall.
Ryan Rucinski rounded out the Wildcats' scoring in the second round with a 77, sinking two birdies on the back nine and shooting a three-over 38 on the front with three bogeys. He improved his day by seven strokes, shooting an 84 in the first round to finish with a 161 (+19) to sit in a tie for 80th overall.
Nationally ranked No. 2 Florida Southern leads the tournament with a 558 (-10) two round score while No. 6 Lynn is in second with a 560 (-8). Host and No. 7 Barry is in third with a 561 (-7) to round out the top three. The Wildcats are 11 strokes ahead of St. Thomas Aquinas and 16 strokes ahead of le Moyne, the other two teams from the East in the field.
Florida Southern's John VanDerLaan leads the field by posting back-to-back rounds of 66, sitting atop the leader board with a -10, five strokes ahead of the next competitor.
The Wildcats will begin the third round on Tuesday morning on the back nine, starting with the first tee-off at 8:40 a.m. They will be paired with Flagler and Tampa.