Copyright 2016; Wilmington University. All rights reserved. Photo of Back Creek Golf Course.
NEWARK, Del. - - The Wilmington University golf team is vying for an unprecedented sixth consecutive Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Championship this week, playing on its home course at Back Creek in Middletown, Delaware.
It is the first time since the 2009 season in which the Wildcats will host the CACC Tournament, a two-day, two-round tournament featuring the 10 teams in the conference. The first round is scheduled for Tuesday morning with the final round to be played on Wednesday. The winning team earns the conference's automatic bid into the NCAA Division II Atlantic/East Super Regional.
Follow the Action of the 2016 CACC Championship:
Live Stats: All Day Starting After Hole 3 (scores reported every three holes)
Live Video: Starting at 12:00 pm Tuesday, 11:00 am Wednesday
Attending the 2016 CACC Golf Championship:
Back Creek Golf Course
101 Back Creek Dr.
Middletown, DE 19709
Scouting the Wilmington University Wildcats:
The Wildcats head into the tournament after winning its most recent competition, defeating the field of eight teams at the St. Thomas Aquinas Spring Invite on Sunday. Andreas Lunding won medalist honors at the event, shooting an even par, 72-72, for a 144 in the two-round tournament.
It is also the third year in a row the Wildcats will feature the CACC Player of the Year in the CACC Tournament, as freshman Ryan Rucinski was named the CACC Player and Rookie of the Year. Selected by the individual's ranking on GolfStat.com, the Wildcats placed seven out of the 10 members on the All-CACC Team.
Joining Rucinski on the All-CACC Team is seniors Andreas Lunding and Jordan Lamb, juniors Sam Clark, Troy Miller, and Miguel Siercke, and sophomore Joey Russo.
Wilmington's Freddy Braun is the defending tournament champion after defeating teammate Joey Russo in the first playoff hole with an 18-foot birdie putt. Braun, Russo, and former Wildcat Alexander Lautenschlaeger earned a spot on CACC All-Championship Team last season.
What's At Stake:
The winner of the 2016 CACC Championship will earn the conference's automatic bid into the 2016 NCAA Division II Atlantic/East Super Regional Tournament hosted by Le Moyne College at Timber Banks Golf Club in Baldwinsville, New York.
The Wildcats are the five-time defending CACC Tournament Champions, as well as the reigning NCAA Division II Atlantic/East Super Regional Champion. The goal is to repeat as Super Regional Champions, but the top five from the 20-team tournament advance to the NCAA Division II National Tournament. The Wildcats have advanced to the National Tournament four out of the last five years.
This year's NCAA Division II National Tournament is a part of the NCAA's Festival Year, with the majority of the spring championships being played at one site. This year's Spring Festival is being held in Denver, Colorado, with the golf championship being hosted by Metro State University at the Green Valley Ranch Golf Club.
