Golf Moves up to 14th Place to Close out the Shark Invitational at PGA National

Copyright 2018; Wilmington University. All rights reserved. File photo of Arvy Shongwe who led the Wildcats with a 74 (+2) on Tuesday at the Shark Invitational. Photo by Keara McCarthy. October 1, 2018 at CACC Championship, Round 2. Deerfield Golf Club.
Copyright 2018; Wilmington University. All rights reserved. File photo of Arvy Shongwe who led the Wildcats with a 74 (+2) on Tuesday at the Shark Invitational. Photo by Keara McCarthy. October 1, 2018 at CACC Championship, Round 2. Deerfield Golf Club.

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. - - The Wilmington University golf team moved up two spots in the standings in the final round of the Shark Invitational on Tuesday, shooting a 305 at The Champion Course at PGA National to finish the tournament in 14th overall.

The Wildcats finished the tournament with a 324-315-305 for a 944 (+80). They started the day in 16th place, moving up two spots in jumping Valdosta State and Embry-Riddle.

Newcomer Arvy Shongwe led the team on Tuesday with a 74 (+2), sinking two birdies on the front nine and was even for the round with three holes to play.

Senior Ryan Rucinski led the Wildcats for the tournament however, finishing in a tie for 38th overall, finishing with a three-round score of 82-74-76 for a 232 (+16). He was the second scorer for the Wildcats on Tuesday, starting on the 15th hole. He was even through the first six holes on the day, but a quad on the par five third and a bogey on the par four fourth set him back. He answered with birdies on the par five sixth and par five 10th, shooting a 76 (+4) for the round.

Braden McKay was the third scorer for the Wildcats on Tuesday, shooting a 77 for the round. He finished his tournament in a tie for 70th overall with rounds of 80-85-77 for a 242 (+26). He was even for his round through his first four holes, and a birdie on the par-five sixth got him back to even. But he went six-over on the next seven holes before a birdie on the par-three 15th rounded out his day with a 77 (+5).

Jack Dixon was the final card that scored for the Wildcats, posting a 78 on Tuesday to move up to a tie for 74th overall. He shot rounds of 83-83-78 for a 244 (+28) for the tournament. On Tuesday, Dixon bogey his first hole, but then answered with eight straight pars to sit at one-over par heading into the seventh tee box. A triple and a bogey brought him to five-over before a bogey on 14 rounded out his day with a 78 (+6).

Matthew Kettleson led the Wildcats through the first two rounds on Monday, but an 85 (+13) slid him back to a tie for 60th overall with a 79-75-85 for a 239 (+23) for the tournament.

Shongwe finished the tournament in a tie for 74th overall, posting rounds of 87-83-74 for a 244 (+28).

Saint Leo won the tournament with an 886 (+22), shooting rounds of 299-290-297. Florida Tech finished in second place with a 301-296-295 for an 892 (+28). Keiser rounded out the top three with rounds of 309-294-290 for an 893 (+29).

Keiser's Benjamin Bailey earned medalist honors for the tournament by finishing as the lone player under par. He shot rounds of 77-69-69 to finish with a 215 (-1).

The Wildcats have one more tournament on the schedule for the fall season, as they head to the Vulcan Invitational starting Sunday, October 14. Hosted by California (Pa.), the Vulcan Invitational will be played at Totteridge Golf Course in Greensburg, Pa., the site of the NCAA Division II Atlantic/East Super Regional in the spring.