Elijah Ruppert makes as putt at Dustin Coleman applauds.
Lexi Bell

Men's Golf Bob Shreve, Assistant Director of Athletics Media Relations

Golden Knights Turn in Strong Finish but Come Up Just Short in Bid for Third Straight Trip to NCAA Division II National Championships

LEBANON, Pa. – The Gannon men's golf team turned in a strong closing round but still came up a stroke short in its quest for a third consecutive trip to the NCAA Division II National Championships. The Golden Knights turned in a team total of 294, 6-over par, on the final day of the NCAA Division II Atlantic/East Regional. The score was tied for the second-lowest round in a regional ever by the Golden Knights, but still left them in fourth place. A total of 20 teams competed in the regional.

The top three teams in the regional advance to the upcoming National Championships on May 22-26 at Avalon Lakes in Warren, Ohio. Davis & Elkins came away with the Atlantic/East Regional crown finishing with an 892 total over 56 holes. That was four strokes better than Fayetteville State, who like Gannon finished with a 294 total on the day to come in at 896.

PSAC rival Indiana (Pa.) edged Gannon by a stroke, shooting the best team total of the day at 293. That was one stroke better than the Golden Knights, the final margin in the three-day total. IUP came in at 900 and Gannon at 901.

It came down to the very last hole, as Gannon was three-over on the par 4 18th hole while IUP had a birdie and three pars.  

"We battled hard today but came up just short," related head coach Dustin Coleman. "That's what happens when you play good teams. You have to bring your best stuff, and we didn't do that this week."

Not only was Gannon edged in the team race, Giovanni Delorenzi (Reggio Emilia, Italy/International School of Modena) just missed capturing one of two individual spots to the National Championships. The top two finishers not members of the three qualifying teams earned berths. Medalist Donte Groppuso of St. Thomas Aquinas wrapped up an impressive tournament with a 74 to finish at 4-under 212. That was a stroke better than Davis & Elkins' Jordan Hyland, who was 3-under 213.

Le Moyne's Tyler Birdd shot a 72 on Saturday to finish at even-par 216. That was good for third place and the second individual berth to Nationals. After back-to-back 73's Delorenzi shot an even-par 72 on Saturday for a 218 total, 2-over par. That was tied with Caden Hodges of Fayetteville State for fourth place.

Delorenzi shot a 35 on a front nine that included three straight birdies. He birdied the par 5 third hole, the par 4 fourth, and the par 3 fifth. The native of Italy capped an impressive freshman year with a four on the par 5 16th hole.

Elijah Ruppert (Fleetwood, Pa./Brandywine Heights) was one of the biggest movers on the day as the sophomore climbed 18 spots to 28th with a 227 (+11) total. He shot a 72 on Saturday, carding a 34 on the front nine followed by a 38 on the back. His round featured five birdies, including all four of the par fives. The other birdie was the par 3 third hole.

Shaunak Rama (Bryanston, South Africa) was a stroke behind at 228 (+12) after shooting a 2-over 74 on Saturday. The junior looked poised for a huge round with a 33 on the front nine that included birdies on the par 4 first hole, par 3 fifth, and par 5 seventh. He would add a fourth birdie on the par 5 16th.   

Abe Holmes (Barrie, Ontario/Barrie North Collegiate) was Gannon's fourth scorer with a 76. The senior concluded his career in a tie for 51st with a 232 (+16) total. He birdied three of the four par 5's. Ryan Ferry (Meadville, Pa./Meadville) completed the Gannon contingent with a 79 for a 239 (+23) total, good for a tie for 81st. He birdied the par 5 16th.

The Golden Knights came out on fire with ten birdies on the front nine. They added seven more on the back nine.  

Despite the tough finish Coleman was proud of what his team accomplished this season. "It was a great year nonetheless," concluded Coleman. 'We set a lot of program records. Ultimately this will fuel us to be even better in the future. I'm proud of everyone on the team and how hard they work. They fuel each other to be their best and they're great young men as well." 

TEAM LEADERS (20 teams total)
1. Davis & Elkins – 302-292-298– 892 (+28)
2. Fayetteville State – 305-297-294 – 896 (+32)
3. Indiana (Pa.) – 306-301-293 – 900 (+36)
T4. GANNON – 301-306-294 – 901 (+37)    
5. St. Thomas Aquinas – 305-297-301 -- 903 (+39)
 
INDIVIDUAL LEADERBOARD (108 total)
1. Donte Groppuso, St. Thomas Aquinas – 69-69-74 -- 212 (-4)
2. Jordan Hyland, Davis & Elkins – 73-70-70 – 213 (-3)
3. Tyler Birdd, Le Moyne – 70-74-72 – 216 (E) 
T4. Giovanni Delorenzi (Reggio Emilia, Italy/International School of Modena), Gannon – 73-73-72 – 218 (+2)
T4. Caden Hodges, Fayetteville State – 75-72-71 – 218 (+2)
 
GANNON INDIVIDUALS
T4. Giovanni Delorenzi (Reggio Emilia, Italy/International School of Modena) – 73-73-72 -- 218 (+2)
T28. Elijah Ruppert (Fleetwood, Pa./Brandywine Heights) – 78-77-72 -- 227 (+11)          
T33. Shaunak Rama (Bryanston, South Africa) – 72-82-74 -- 228 (+12)
T51. Abe Holmes (Barrie, Ontario/Barrie North Collegiate) – 78-78-76 -- 232 (+16)
T81. Ryan Ferry (Meadville, Pa./Meadville) – 82-78-79 -- 239 (+23)
 
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Players Mentioned

Abe Holmes

Abe Holmes

6' 3"
Senior
Business Analytics
Elijah Ruppert

Elijah Ruppert

6' 1"
Sophomore
Environmental Engineering
Giovanni Delorenzi

Giovanni Delorenzi

6' 1"
Freshman
Environmental Health Engineering
Shaunak Rama

Shaunak Rama

5' 9"
Junior
Business Administration
Ryan Ferry

Ryan Ferry

6' 0"
Junior
Finance

Players Mentioned

Abe Holmes

Abe Holmes

6' 3"
Senior
Business Analytics
Elijah Ruppert

Elijah Ruppert

6' 1"
Sophomore
Environmental Engineering
Giovanni Delorenzi

Giovanni Delorenzi

6' 1"
Freshman
Environmental Health Engineering
Shaunak Rama

Shaunak Rama

5' 9"
Junior
Business Administration
Ryan Ferry

Ryan Ferry

6' 0"
Junior
Finance