LEBANON, Pa. - - The 2022-23 Wilmington University golf season has come to a close on Saturday, as the Wildcats shot a 317 to finish 15th overall at the NCAA Division II Atlantic/East Super Regional hosted by Millersville at the Iron Valley Golf Club.
The Wildcats posted scores of 303-308-317 for a 928 (+64), finishing outside the top three teams that will advance to the NCAA National Tournament. Davis & Elkins held onto their second round lead with a 298 to win the Super Regional with an 892 (+28). Fayetteville State shot an 896 (+32) to finish second while Indiana (Pa.) shot a 293 on Saturday to move into third and advance to the Finals.
Tyler Cleaves was the top finisher for the Wildcats, moving up to a tie for 23rd overall on Saturday. He posted rounds of 76-76-74 for a 226 (+10). Cleaves birdied the par five third to get back to even par and then birdied the par five 16th to get back to two-over par. He finished the round with back-to-back pars to shoot a 74 (+2). Cleaves was tied for 17th in the tournament on Par 5 Scoring, finishing the three rounds four-under par (-4) on all the long holes.
Matthew Pulgini was the second Wildcat on the leaderboard, finishing in a tie for 28th overall with a 227 (+11). Saturday wasn't Pulgini's day on the course, as he shot rounds of 74-73-80 to slip down on the leaderboard. He posted five birdies on Saturday, but only collected three pars on the day. Pulgini led the tournament with 15 birdies in the three rounds.
Nathan Potts was the third Wildcat listed on the leaderboard, finishing in a tie for 86th overall. He shot rounds of 75-81-84 for a 240 (+24). He finished the three rounds in a tie for third overall on Par 3 Scoring, averaging 3.17 strokes per par three, finishing at two-over par in the three rounds. Potts had eight pars on the front nine on Saturday, but the proven tough back-nine bit Potts, as he was 11-over par on the final nine holes on Saturday.
Jan Lekes had a scoring round on Saturday, shooting a 79 (+7). He improved every round of the Super Regional, shooting rounds of 84-82-79 for a 245 (+29). Lekes started slow on Saturday, sitting at four-over after the first four holes and six-over after eight holes. But he birdied the par four ninth to make the turn and then collected seven pars on the back nine after he settled in.
Pablo Quintero tied Lekes in 98th place overall, shooting rounds of 78-78-89 for a 245 (+29). Quintero started slowly on Saturday, collecting a birdie on the par five seventh to get back to seven over par. Quintero had seven pars in his third round, but was hampered by a quad and a triple on the front.
St. Thomas Aquinas' Donte Groppuso stayed atop the leaderboard despite shooting a 74 (+2) today. He shot rounds of 69-69-74 for a 212 (-4), to win medalist honors by one stroke. Jordan Hyland finished in second with a 213 (-3) while Le Moyne's Tyler Birdd was the only other participant at even par or better, shooting a 216 (E) to finish third.