BELLE VERNON, Pa. - - Sunday was the opening day of the 2021-22 Wilmington University golf season and the Wildcats have already shown improvement on the year, shooting a 288 (+4) in the first round and a 283 (-1) in the second round to sit in sixth place at the Vulcan Invitational hosted by California (Pa.) at the Cedarbrook Golf Course.
The Wildcats moved up a spot to sixth after sitting in seventh place in the first round. There are 17 teams at the Vulcan Invitational.
Sophomore Tyler Cleaves shot one of the best rounds of the day in round two, finishing in a tie for 12th overall after the first two rounds. He shot a 72-67 for a 139 (-3). Cleaves sank seven birdie putts in the second round, including a string of three birdies in four holes to get to four-under par for the round. But back-to-back bogeys on holes 14 and 15 set him back to two-under before he recovered with birdies on 16 and finished with a birdie on hole one. He is currently tied for seventh overall with 10 birdies in the first two rounds.
Junior transfer Matthew Pulgini is in a tie for 19th after the first two round, posting scores of 70-71 for a 141 (-1). Pulgini had an eagle on the par five 10th hole in the opening round, and then back-to-back birdies on holes 12 and 13 had him as low as two-under. But back-to-back bogeys on 15 and 16 set him back to even before a birdie on 17 brought him back to one-under for the round. Three birdies in a four-hole stretch got Pulgini to two-under in the second round, but a bogey and double bogey took him back to one-over. He birdied the par-four 18 to get his second round back to even par. Pulgini is four-under on the par five holes (tied for fourth overall) and 11th overall with nine birdies.
Graduate transfer Carlos Coeto is tied for 35th overall with rounds of 72-73 for a 145 (+3). He had two birdies and 15 pars in the first round, but was burned by a triple bogey on the par-four 16 to get to his 72 (+2). His second round started with eight straight pars, and he was even through 13 after a birdie. But a bogey on 14 and a double bogey on 16 brought him to three-over before he finished his day on a high note with a birdie on 18 to finish at 73 (+2). He is second overall in the tournament with 28 pars through the first two rounds.
Sophomore Ali Ladak with tied for 44th overall with a 74-72 for a 146 (+4). He posted three birdies on the back nine in his first round to get back to two-over par. He then hit back-to-back birdies on holes 9 and 10 in round two to get to one-over and then sank birdies on holes 14 and 17 to get to even par. But a bogey on his final hole of the day pushed him to a 72 (+1).
Freshman Pablo Quintero is in a tie for 56th overall following his first two collegiate rounds of golf, posting scores of 75-73 for a 148 (+6). He birdied holes 10 and 12 to get back to even par in the first round, but went +4 over the final eight holes to settle for a 75. He again recorded two birdies in the second round, getting to one-under after his first eight holes. Back-to-back bogeys on 17 and 18 set him back however, as he posted a 73 (+2).
Playing as an individual, Jan Lekes is in 108th place after shooting rounds of 81-80 or a 161 (+19) in his first collegiate rounds as a Wildcat. He posted birdies on the par five second and the par five 13th in round two.
West Liberty leads the pack of 17 teams with a 277-283 for a 560 (-8) after two rounds. Charleston is second with a 282-279 for a 561 (-7) while Davis & Elkins is third with a 276-286 for a 562 (-6).
West Liberty's Alex Easthom leads the tournament by three strokes with a 65-64 for a 129 (-13). Shepherd's Mason Kidwell is second with a 63-69 for a 132 (-10).
The third round will begin at 9:30 a.m. on Monday with a shotgun start.