Early Cushion Lifts Spiders at A-10 Championship
ORLANDO, Fla. — For much of the day, the Richmond Spiders had the lowest round on the course in Round 2 of the Atlantic 10 Championship. But after starting its round on the 9th hole, Richmond knew what awaited it at the end of the day: holes 7 and 8, the two most difficult holes on the Grand Cypress Course and the only two holes to play more than a half-shot over par Saturday.
The final two-hole stretch took its pound of flesh, as Richmond combined to play holes 7 and 8 in 14-over par, but the Spiders still managed to move up the leaderboard Saturday, shooting a team score of 9-over (297) to move into sixth place at 20-over par (596), one shot behind fifth-place George Mason. UR was led by freshman Jack LaPiana Saturday, as he managed to finish his even-par round of 72 with pars on the 7th and 8th holes, picking up more than a stroke-and-a-quarter on the field.
"The wind was off the left for both of them and there's water left and hazard or out-of-bounds right. It's tough to commit to that line. You don't want to start the ball over the water, obviously," said LaPiana on holes 7 and 8. "I just kind of hit the safe shot I was supposed to and then just hit two really good chip shots and then made a decent length putt on 8. Obviously, that felt good."
Junior Cole Ekert is the top Spider on the individual leaderboard through two rounds. He's tied for 11th at 2-over par (146) after shooting a 3-over 75 Saturday. LaPiana, who remained at 4-over par, moved 15 spots up the leaderboard into a tie for 17th.
Freshman Quin Polin is at 6-over par (150), tied for 23rd in the field. His nine birdies through two rounds are tied for the most in the field.
Sophomore Drew Carlin is tied for 31st at 8-over par (152), three shots in front of grad student Lou Baker, who's tied for 41st.
Richmond's 28 team birdies are tied for second most in the field through two rounds, but 12 double bogeys or worse have kept the Spiders in the middle of the leaderboard.
UR will begin Sunday's final round on the 1st tee at 7:30 AM. Richmond will be paired with George Mason and Dayton.
"I think we probably have to fire at pins a little more tomorrow just because we've got some shots to make up," said LaPiana. "The course will be playing a little easier on the front side with the wind down in the morning, so I think 7-8 won't be as tough. We've got to keep playing our game. we've made a lot of birdies out there. We just need to eliminate the bogeys and fire low tomorrow."
Lou Baker Graduate Student
Cole Ekert Junior
Jack LaPiana Freshman
Quin Polin Freshman
Drew Carlin Sophomore
Cole Ekert Junior
Quin Polin Freshman
