WHEELING, W.Va. – The Gannon men's golf team is heading to the NCAA Championships.
 
Coach Dustin Coleman's Golden Knights dominated the three-day NCAA Division II Atlantic/East Regional as they claimed the program's first regional title since 2021. Meanwhile, senior Shaunak Rama (Bryanston, South Africa/St Stithians Boys School) won the individual championship by shooting a 1-under-par 70 on Saturday to finish with a 54-hole total of 2-under 211. GU junior Michael Wareham (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional), who led after the first two rounds, tied for second at even-par 213.
 
"Wow, what a week! We've been working towards this all season," Coleman said. "The postseason is what we prepare for. This is why we put in all those hours, and it culminated in a regional championship. I'm so happy for the guys."
 

 
Gannon took a two-shot lead in the first round, and only expanded the lead for the final two days as it closed with a 23-shot victory at Oglebay Golf Resort's Speidel Jones Course. The Knights were the No. 3 seed in the Atlantic Region when they entered the 20-team tournament. Gannon and four other teams from the regional will advance to the NCAA Division II Championships on May 21-25 at Orange County National Golf Center and Lodge in Winter Garden, Fla.
 
The third round began with a shotgun start at 9:30 a.m. but didn't finish until after 8 p.m. because of two long weather delays – one for heavy rain and one for lightning.
 
How consistently dominant was Gannon? The Knights shot the lowest score on each day of the tournament as they finished with a three-day total of 12-over-par 864. GU shot 294 on Thursday, 282 on Friday, and 288 on Saturday.
 
Charleston finished second at 887, followed by St. Thomas Aquinas (889), Indiana, Pa. (892), and Post (905).
 
On Saturday, Rama's round was highlighted by an eagle 3 on the par-5 No. 8 hole. He also had a birdie on No. 5 as he posted a 3-under 33 on the front nine. He shot an even-par 35 on the back nine that included birdies on Nos. 10 and 17.
   
"Shaunak played unbelievably. He's been so hot this semester," Coleman said. "He was chosen as team MVP for a reason, and he proved it this week."
 
Wareham carded a 76 on Saturday to close the tournament at even par. He shot a 69 on Thursday and a 68 on Friday. He had two birdies on the front nine on Saturday as he shot 38 on both the front and the back nines.
 
Freshman Mattia Parrini (Verolengo, Italy/Verolengo) had the low round of the day among the entire 108-player field with a 2-under 69. He birdied Nos. 1, 8, 17, and 18. Parrini climbed 39 spots on Saturday as he tied for 21st at 11-over-par 224.
 
Sophomore Giovanni Delorenzi (Reggio Emilia, Italy/International School of Modena) carded a 2-over 73 on Saturday and tied for 14th with a 9-over total of 222. He birdied No. 1 and No. 6.
 
Gannon's Ryan Ferry (Meadville, Pa./Meadville) shot a 76 and closed with a 54-hole total of 13-over 226. He tied for 27th.
 
The victory was welcome for the Golden Knights, many of whom were on the 2023 team that missed advancing to the NCAA Championships by a single stroke. This year, the Knights left no doubt.
 
"We'll celebrate this for a couple days, then shift our focus on the national championship," Coleman said. "There is work to be done and we can't wait to get to Florida."
 
Top 10 team scores
(20-team field)
Top five advance to NCAA Championships

1. Gannon 294-282-288—564 +12
2. Charleston 296-290-301—887 +35
3. St. Thomas Aquinas 300-300-289—889 +37
4. Indiana (Pa.)  303-298-291—892 +40
5. Post 308-294-303—905 +53
6. Davis & Elkins  306-295-306—907  +55 
7 Fayetteville State 300-303-306—909  +57 
8 Adelphi 301-300-309—910  +58 
9. Goldey-Beacom  302-302-308—912  +60 
10. Livingstone  309-296-309—914  +62
 

Top five individuals
(108-player field)

1. Shaunak Rama (Bryanston, South Africa/St Stithians Boys School), Gannon 71-70-70—211 -2
T2. Michael Wareham (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional), Gannon 69-68-76—213 E
T2. Matin Eisa, Davis & Elkins 70-71-72—213  E
T4. Filip Wetterqvist, Adelphi 73-70-74—217 +4
T4. Djaia Darrason, St. Thomas Aquinas 71-75-71—217  +4
 

Gannon scores:

1. Shaunak Rama (Bryanston, South Africa/St Stithians Boys School) 71-70-70—211 -2
T2. Michael Wareham (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional) 69-68-76—213  E
T14. Giovanni Delorenzi (Reggio Emilia, Italy/International School of Modena) 76-73-73—222  +9
T21.  Mattia Parrini (Verolengo, Italy/Verolengo)   79-76-69—224  +11
T27.  Ryan Ferry (Meadville, Pa./Meadville) 78-71-77—226   +13