Copyright 2016; Wilmington University. All rights reserved. File photo of Sam Clark.
MIAMI BEACH, Fla. - - The Wilmington University golf team closed out the Buccaneer Invitational with another sub-300 score, but fell to a tie for 10th overall with a 296 on Tuesday, closing out the tournament hosted by Barry University at the Normandy Shores Golf Club with an 867 (+15).
The Wildcats tied nationally No. 21 Florida Tech with an 867, shooting a 288-283-296 over the two-day tournament. The team finished ahead of No. 24 Central Oklahoma as well.
Junior Sam Clark led the Wildcats on Tuesday, tying his second round score of 73 to finish 74-73-73 for a 220 (+7). Clark finished in a tie for 45th overall for the tournament.
Both Miguel Siercke and Joey Russo tallied 74's on Tuesday as Siercke led the Wildcats by finishing in a tie for 24th overall. Siercke went 67-74-74 for a 215 (+2) for the Wildcats. Russo finished in a tie for 45th with Clark, shooting a 74-72-74 for a two-day score of 220 (+7).
Senior Andreas Lunding rounded out the scoring for the Wildcats on Tuesday wuth a 75, finishing the tournament in a tie for 53rd overall with a 77-69-75 for a 221 (+8). Freshman Ryan Rucinski closed out the team with a 77 on Tuesday, finishing second on the Wildcats in a tie for 39th overall with a 73-69-77 for a 219 (+6).
Freddy Braun improved each round as an individual, shooting an 80-74-72 for a 226 (+13). He moved up eight spots on the leaderboard to finish in a tie for 76th overall.
East Region opponent and the only team above the Wildcats in the first NCAA Division II Regional Rankings, St. Thomas Aquinas shot a 278 on Tuesday to move up the standing and finish in a tie for third overall. No. 3 Nova Southeastern jumped Lynn with a 283 on Tuesday, finishing the tournament with an 846 (-6) to capture the title.
Lynn's Mateo Gomez led wire-to-wire to earn the individual title, shooting a 65-70-73 for a 208 (-5). St. Thomas Aquinas' Brendan Hunter was steady in shooting a 69-70-70 to finish a stroke behind the leader.
The Wildcats return to regional play in their final two-day tournament before the postseason. They will compete in the Mike Bello Invitational hosted by Le Moyne College starting on Sunday, April 10.