WINTER GARDEN, Fla. – Shaunak Rama (Bryanston, South Africa/St Stithians Boys School) birdied two of the final three holes as he led the Gannon men's golf team with a 1-over-par 72 on the opening day of the NCAA Division II Championships on Tuesday.
 
Gannon was in 19th place as a team after the first 18 holes of the three-day, 54-hole stroke play portion of the five-day event. Gannon closed the day at 13-over-par 297 as a team on the par-71 Crooked Cat course at the Orange County National Golf Center.
 
The Golden Knights entered the tournament aiming to be one of the eight teams that will advance to the eight-team medal rounds on Friday and Saturday. Gannon is currently 14 strokes behind the No. 8 team. Oklahoma Christian and Colorado Christian are tied for first place at 7-under 277.

And ... we're off!
The Golden Knights have begun teeing off at the NCAA Division II Men's Golf Championships. Michael Wareham (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional) is in GU's first group.
One change for Gannon: Jacob Wolak (Slippery Rock, Pa./Slippery Rock Area) has been substituted into the lineup in place of Mattia Parrini (Verolengo, Italy/Verolengo). @Gannon_Golf @GannonU pic.twitter.com/jcULtNCCaw

— Gannon Athletics (@GUKnights) May 21, 2024

 
"We didn't take advantage of the holes that are there for the taking. We need to tighten up and put two good rounds together to see where that puts us," Gannon coach Dustin Coleman said. "It's far from over. We made it difficult on ourselves, but it's still doable."
 
Gannon was coming off a 23-stroke victory at the Atlantic/East Regional, and Rama was coming off an individual title at the regional.
 
On Tuesday, Rama led the Golden Knights with a 72 after shooting 1-over-par 36 on the front nine and even-par 36 on the back nine. The senior had a birdie on No. 4 before finishing with birdies on Nos. 16 and 18.  He is tied for 43rd in the individual standings.
 
Sophomore Giovanni Delorenzi (Reggio Emilia, Italy/International School of Modena) and freshman Jacob Wolak (Slippery Rock, Pa./Slippery Rock Area) each shot a 3-over-par 74 for Gannon, while junior Michael Wareham (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional) rounded out the Knights' scoring with a 6-over 77. Senior Ryan Ferry (Meadville, Pa./Meadville) was the fifth player in Gannon's lineup as he shot a 79.
 

 
Wolak shot a solid round after replacing freshman Mattia Parrini (Verolengo, Italy/Verolengo) in the lineup. Wolak birdied Nos. 4, 9, and 12. Delorenzi converted birdies on hole Nos. 2, 9, and 15. Wareham's lone bridie came on No. 9 as he finished the front nine with a 1-over 36. Ferry carded the Knights' lone eagle as he shot a 3 on the par-5 17th hole.
 
The tournament will continue Wednesday morning.
 
Team standings
T1. Oklahoma Christian 277       -7
T1. Colorado Christian 277       -7
T3. West Florida 279       -5
T3. Grand Valley State 279       -5
5. Cal State Monterey Bay 280       -4
6. Central Oklahoma 281       -3
7. North Georgia 282       -2
8. Coker University  283       -1
9. West Texas A&M 285       +1
T10. Ferris State 288      +4
T10. Henderson State 288      +4
T10. Western New Mexico 288      +4
T10. Harding University 288      +4
T14. Lee University 289      +5
T14. Charleston 289      +5
16. Wingate . 290      +6
17. Indiana (Pa.)  295     +11
18. Post 296     +12
19. Gannon 297    +13
20. St. Thomas Aquinas 299    +15
 
Top 5 players:
(108-player field)
1.  Tony Tao, Cal State Monterey Bay      63   -8 
2.  Manuel Cue,  Grand Valley State      65      -6 
T3.  TJ Thompson, West Florida     66      -5 
T3.  Xavier Bighaus,  Colorado Christian      66      -5 
T5.  Wyatt Provence,  West Texas A&M      67      -4 
T5.  Blas Ayesa,  Oklahoma Christian      67      -4
 
 
Gannon scores:
T43. Shaunak Rama (Bryanston, South Africa/St Stithians Boys School) 72 +1
T68. Jacob Wolak (Slippery Rock, Pa./Slippery Rock Area) 74 +3
T68. Giovanni Delorenzi (Reggio Emilia, Italy/International School of Modena) 74 +3  
T97. Michael Wareham (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional) 77 +6
T102. Ryan Ferry (Meadville, Pa./Meadville) 79 +8