PETERSBURG, Va. - - Tyler Cleaves finished one stroke off the top of the leaderboard, leading the Wilmington University golf team to a second-place finish at The Griffin Invitational hosted by St. Leo University at the Country Club of Petersburg.

The Wildcats posted scores of 295-295-298 for a three-round score of 888 (+24). Only host and 10^th ranked St. Leo shot better than the Wildcats, winning the tournament with an 871 (+7).

Tyler Cleaves held the clubhouse lead after the first two rounds on Monday, shooting a pair of 70 (-2) rounds to lead by two strokes at four-under. But St. Leo's Jake Nash overtook Cleaves with a 69 (-3) on Tuesday, as Cleaves finished with a 73 (+1), finishing one stroke back.

On Tuesday, Cleaves got off to a slow start, posting three bogeys on the front nine. But an eagle on the par five 11^th got him back to one over par for the round. Unfortunately, he gave one back with a bogey on the par three 12^th before answering with his final birdie of the day on the par five 15^th. Three final pars finished his round at 73 (+1). He led all golfers in Par 5 Scoring for the tournament, finishing the three rounds at -11 on all par five holes. He was even tied for second on Par 3 Scoring, finishing +1 overall. He also led the tournament with 13 birdies in the three rounds.

Sophomore Matthew Pulgini and freshman Pablo Quintero tied for seventh overall finishing with like 221 (+5) scores. Pulgini went 73-73-75 for his 221 while Quintero improved each round with scores of 76-74-71.

Quintero's 71 (-1) was the Wildcats best score of Round 3, moving him up five spots on the leaderboard. He birdied the par four third and then finished his front nine with six straight pars to come in at 35 (-1). Another birdie on the par four 10^th dropped him to two-under and then he posted seven more pars. But a bogey on the par four 18^th saw him finish his round with a 71 (1).

Pulgini shot a 75 (+3) on Tuesday afternoon, sinking two birdies but carried three bogeys and a double as well. He had a birdie on the par five seventh and the par five 15^th, but a double bogey on the par three 12^th set him back from shooting even par.

Ali Ladak was the final scorer for the Wildcats on Tuesday, shooting a 79 (+7) to close out his tournament. He posted scores of 76-80-79 for a 235 (+19) to come in 34^th overall. He was able to get back to three-over par with a bird on the par five 11^th, but a double bogey on the 13^th pushed him up to six-over. For the tournament, Ladak shot four-under par on all par five holes.

The three final Wildcats competed as individuals for the tournament, led by Jan Lekes 38^th place finish with a 74-87-83 for a 244 (+28). Lekes finished fifth in the tournament totaling 35 pars in the three rounds.

Nathan Potts tied for 41^st overall, finishing with rounds of 85-80-81 for a 246 (+30). Rory Huycke finished 45^th overall with rounds of 85-82-83 for a 25 (+34). He finished tied for 19^th overall on Par 3 Scoring, finishing +4 for the tournament.

The Wildcats have a week off before competing for the 2021-22 CACC Championship starting on October 4 at Watertown Golf Club in Watertown, Connecticut. The Wildcats won the 2019 CACC Tournament Championship while not competing in the 2020-21 academic year. Dominican won the 2021 Spring Championship.