FROM IUP ATHLETICS (https://iupathletics.com):
LEBANON, Pa. – Needing to make up some ground going into the final round of the 2023 NCAA DII Atlantic/East Regional at Iron Valley Golf Club, IUP delivered in a big way, carding the low round of the field on Saturday while locking up a spot at the upcoming NCAA DII Men’s Golf National Championships in the process.
Trailing the number three spot by five strokes entering the round, IUP shot up two spots on the team leaderboard. Starting the final round in a pairing with Fayetteville State and Gannon, the Crimson Hawks narrowed the gap with a 293, just enough to crack the top three in the team standings with a balanced round throughout the lineup.
The impressive final round capped a remarkable rise up the standings for the Crimson Hawks, which finished the initial round tied for ninth overall before moving to fifth on Saturday.
The top three teams (Davis & Elkins, Fayetteville State, IUP) and the top two student-athletes not with a team (Donte Groppuso, Tyler Birdd) advance to the NCAA Division II Championships on May 22-26, at Avalon Lakes Country Club in Warren, Ohio.
Groppuso won medalist honors for St. Thomas Aquinas, finishing the tournament four under par overall following a stellar opening two rounds.
IUP’s score of 293 on Saturday was the second lowest of any team over the course of the three-round tournament, only trailing regional champion Davis & Elkins’ second round 292 from Friday.
Saturday’s third-place finish is the highest for the IUP men’s golf program since the 2014-15 season, finishing second overall that year at the super regional tournament. This marks IUP’s 34th all-time trip to the NCAA championships for the Crimson Hawks and first since the 2014-15 season.
Jackson Buccigoss finished the regional field tied for sixth overall, holding steady with an even par 72. Buccigross shot at or below par in two of the three rounds of the tournament, setting the tone for the round with a consecutive birdies and a one-under score on the front nine.
Shaun Fedor climbed six spot up the individual leaderboard to a tie for 16th with a one-over 73 on Saturday. Fedor was even across the back nine in a steady round for IUP.
Alex Swinnerton followed closely behind in a tie for 18th overall, recording a two-over 74 on Saturday. Swinnerton carded three birdies over the final six holes.
Guillermo Salazar matched his round on Saturday with a 77 on Sunday, finishing tied for 78th.
John Olsen shot his best round of the regional tournament with his two-over 74. Olsen jumped 15 spots up the individual leaderboard following his round on Saturday in a tie for 86th.
IUP previously won the program’s 32nd PSAC championship at Iron Valley Golf Club. The Crimson Hawks finished one shot ahead of Gannon and three shots clear of St. Thomas Aquinas for the final automatic spot.
IUP Scores
T6. Jackson Buccigross – 71, 76, 72 (219)
T16. Shaun Fedor – 76, 75, 73 (224)
T18. Alex Swinnerton – 78, 73, 74 (225)
T78. Guillermo Salazar – 84, 77, 77 (238)
T86. John Olsen – 81, 85, 74 (240)
Team Scores (top three teams advance)
1. Davis & Elkins – 302, 292, 298 (892)
2. Fayeteville State – 305, 297, 294 (896)
3. IUP – 306, 301, 293 (900)
4. Gannon – 301, 306, 294 (901)
5. St. Thomas Aquinas – 305, 297, 301 (903)
Up Next
IUP closes out its season at the 2023 NCAA DII Men’s Golf Championships, starting May 22 at Avalon Lakes Country Club.
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