MEADVILLE – Elijah Ruppert (Fleetwood, Pa./Brandywine Heights) shot a 6-under-par 66 to take the individual lead and help the Gannon University men's golf team to a six-stroke advantage after the first round of Allegheny College's Guy and Jeanne Kuhn Memorial tournament on Sunday.

Coach Dustin Coleman's team is trying to win its fourth consecutive tournament to open the 2022-23 season. The Golden Knights earlier won the California Vulcan Invitational, Mercyhurst's Evann Parker Memorial, and Gannon's own Howard "Bud" Elwell Invitational.

Gannon finished the first round on Sunday with a 283 total to take the lead over the host Allegheny, which had 289.

Ruppert, a sophomore playing in the No. 5 spot for Gannon, was outstanding despite the rain that fell on The Country Club of Meadville for much of the day. Ruppert is trying to become the third Gannon player to win an individual title this season.

Gannon freshman Giovanni Delorenzi (Reggio Emilia, Italy), despite playing as an individual, was in second place in the individual standings with a 3-under 69.

Ryan Ferry (Meadville, Pa./Meadville), the Golden Knights' No. 2 player, was tied for fifth with a 1-under 71, while No. 1 player Abe Holmes (Barrie, Ontario/Barrie North Collegiate) was tied for eighth with an even-par 72.

The Gannon lineup also included Shaunak Rama (Bryanston, South Africa) (74, tied for 12th) and Michael Wareham (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional) (75, tied for 16th).

Gannon will try to clinch the title on Monday in the 18-hole second round. However, rain is in the forecast again.


Top 5 teams (15-team field)

1. Gannon 283 -5 

2. Allegheny College 289 +1

3. Washington & Jefferson 302   +14 

4. Grove City College 303  +15 

5. Carnegie Mellon Univ. (B) 304   +16 


1. Gannon 283

1. Elijah Ruppert (Fleetwood, Pa./Brandywine Heights) (5) 66 -6

T5. Ryan Ferry (Meadville, Pa./Meadville) (2) 71 -1

T8. Abe Holmes (Barrie, Ontario/Barrie North Collegiate) (1) 72 E

T12. Shaunak Rama (Bryanston, South Africa) (4) 74 +2

T16. Michael Wareham (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional) (3) 75 +3

Playing as an individual:

2.  Giovanni Delorenzi (Reggio Emilia, Italy) 69 -3