LEBANON, Pa. – If this was a preview of the Atlantic/East Regional, the Gannon men's golf team could be in for a big postseason.
 
Led by individual champion Giovanni Delorenzi (Reggio Emilia, Italy/International School of Modena), the Golden Knights continued their dominant 2022-23 season with a one-stroke victory on Tuesday in the 25-team Atlantic/East Region Preview at Iron Valley Golf Club.
 
The tourney win was Gannon's third in a row and eighth of the 2022-23 academic year after the Golden Knights won five tourney titles during the fall portion of the season. This also might have been the toughest field Gannon has faced all season.
 

Delorenzi, a freshman, was the only golfer in a field of 132 to finish under par with a two-day total of 1-under 143. That gave him a three-stroke win. After opening with a 4-under 68 on Monday, he followed with a 3-over 75 on Tuesday.
 
Coach Dustin Coleman's Gannon team made an impressive comeback after a slow start on Monday when the Knights quickly faded to 11th place. However, they closed strongly on Monday and were tied for second going into the final round one shot behind St. Thomas Aquinas.

On Tuesday, Gannon finished with a 7-over 295 for two-day total of 20-over 596 to edge St. Thomas Aquinas by one shot.  

Delorenzi became the fourth Gannon player to win an individual title in 2022-23, joining Abe Holmes (Barrie, Ontario/Barrie North Collegiate) (five), Shaunak Rama (Bryanston, South Africa) (one), and Ryan Ferry (Meadville, Pa./Meadville) (one). They have combined for eight titles.
 
Ferry had a clutch round for Gannon on Tuesday. After struggling to an 87 in the first round, he recovered for a 16-stroke turnaround, shooting a 1-under 71. That included a 3-under 33 on the back nine.
 
Meanwhile, Rama shot an even-par 72, including a 3-under 33 on the front nine. He tied for 14th overall with a 150 (78-72).
 
Rama and Ferry were birdie machines on Tuesday. Rama had five birdies in his round, and Ferry had four.
 
Elijah Ruppert (Fleetwood, Pa./Brandywine Heights) (75) rounded out the scoring for Gannon, while Abe Holmes (Barrie, Ontario/Barrie North Collegiate) added an 81 after a first-round 76.
 
Gannon will now prepare for the all-important Atlantic/East Regional on May 11-13 on the same Iron Valley course. The Golden Knights will aim for a berth in the NCAA Division II Championships.
 
Top 5 Teams
(Field of 25)
1. Gannon 301-295-596 +20
2. St. Thomas Aquinas 299-298-597 +21
3. Davis & Elkins 305-297-602 +26
4. Le Moyne 301-305-606 +30
T5. Adelphi 304-305-609 +33
T5. Post 301-308-609 +33 
 
Gannon golfers
(Field of 132)
1. Giovanni Delorenzi (Reggio Emilia, Italy/International School of Modena) 68-75-143 -1
T14. Shaunak Rama (Bryanston, South Africa) 78-72-150 +6
T53. Elijah Ruppert (Fleetwood, Pa./Brandywine Heights) 79-77-156 +12
T58. Abe Holmes (Barrie, Ontario/Barrie North Collegiate) 76-81-157 +13
T66. Ryan Ferry (Meadville, Pa./Meadville) 87-71-158 +14