BELLE VERNON, Pa. - - The Wilmington University golf team opened its 2022 fall campaign with an excellent showing at the Vulcan Invitational, shooting rounds of 284 and 284 to finish sixth overall in the weather-shortened tournament on Sunday and Monday.

The tournament was scheduled to feature two rounds of play on Sunday followed by a final round on Monday, but the weather in western Pennsylvania pushed the finish of round two to Monday morning and the teams never started the third round.

The Wildcats shot a 284 (-2) as a team in the first round and then followed with a 283 (-3) on Sunday afternoon and Monday morning. The five under par was only one stroke from a tie for fourth and four strokes from tying for third overall.

Tyler Cleaves came in a tie for 10^th with a 138 (-5) after he started the tournament with back-to-back birdies and then had another birdie on the par four seventh to get back to two-under par through the first nine holes. After a double bogey on the par three 11^th brought him back to even, he birdied the 12^th, 16^th, and 18^th holes to shoot a 68 (-3). Cleaves also birdied the 6^th, 8^th, and 11^th holes in his second round to get to three-under. The rains came and he bogeyed the 14^th, 15^th, and 16^th, before recovering on Monday morning with a birdie on the 18^th to shoot a 70 (-2).

Pablo Quintero finished in a tie for 29^th overall with a 142 (-1) with rounds of 74 (+3) and 68 (-4). He birdied the 5^th and 9^th in his first round to make the turn at even par before a double bogey saw him finish the first round with a 74 (+3). He got off to a betterstart in the second round, with birdies on the 2^nd, 4^th, and 6^th holes to make the turn at three-under. Another birdie on the 16^th got him back to three-under, finishing with a team best for the weekend 68 (-4).

Matthew Pulgini finished in a tie for 50^th with a two-round score of 145 (+2). He birdied the 2^nd, sixth, and 7^th holes of his first round to make the turn at one-under par. After a bogey on the 11^th, he finished with seven straight pars to close with a 71 (E). Pulgini then birdied the 7^th and 8^th on his second round to make the turn at one-under and again was one-under through 16. But back-to-back double bogeys hurt Pulgini, closing the round with a 74 (+2).

Jan Lekes placed 55^th overall with a two-round score of 146 (+3). After falling in a hole to start his tournament, he birdied the 5^th, 7^th, and 10^th holes to get back to even par. He also birdied his final hole of the round, the par five 2^nd to finish with a 71 (E). He birdied the par four 12^th in his second round, but couldn't climb out of his early hole like he did in the first round, shooting a 75 (+3).

Newcomer Blake Ramirez was the final golfer for the team score, shooting a 148 (+5) in his first tournament as a Wildcat. A pair of double bogeys hindered his opening round, shooting a 77 (+6). He birdied holes four and 10 to get to two-under par in the second round before three bogeys on the back nine saw him go to one-over. But he recovered with a birdie on the par four first hole, rounding out his round with a 71 (E).  

Playing as an individual, Nathan Potts tied for 92^nd overall with a two-round score of 153 (+10). He birdied the par four first and par three 11^th to get back to even par in his opening round, but finished at 72 (+1). He had six bogeys and two doubles in his second round, shooting an 81 (+10).

Gannon won the tournament with rounds of 271-274 for a 545 (-27). Davis & Elkins finished second with scores of 274-276 for a 550 (-22).

The Wildcats return to action on Monday as they travel to Florida to compete in The Griffin Invitational hosted by Saint Leo University.