RedStorm post runner-up showing at LTU Classic
Rio Grande Sports Information
SHEPHERDSVILLE, Ky. - Alfonso Baro Rosas recorded a runner-up finish individually and the University of Rio Grande finished second as a team in the LTU Heritage Hill Collegiate hosted by Lawrence Tech (Mich.) University.
The two-day, 54-hole event wrapped up on Saturday at Heritage Hill Golf Club.
Baro Rosas, a freshman from Cancun, Mexico, finished at even-par 216 - one shot behind medalist Gustaf Lundberg of Millian (Tenn.) University.
Baro Rosas was particulary strong over the final two rounds. After carding a 5-over par 77 in Friday's opening round, he had a 4-under par 68 in round two and finished with a 1-under 71 in the final round.
As a team, the RedStorm finished at 11-over par 875 and were three shots in back of host Lawrence Tech's "A" entry. Campbellsville University was third at 17-over 881.
Head coach Lauren Lee's squad found itself in third place at 3-over par 291 after Friday's first round and moved to second place following a 4-under 284 in round two.
The 18- and 36-hole totals represented the best team scores in program history.
In addition to Baro Rosas, Rio Grande's surge toward the top was bolstered by strong efforts from junior Nicolas Gonzalez (Medellin, Columbia) and sophomore Rodrigo Portilla (Savilla, Spain).
Portilla was part of a three-way tie for the lead after shooting a 3-under 69 in the opening round. He slipped to 7-over 79 in the second round and 3-over 75 in the final round and finished at 7-over 223, good enough for a tie for 13th place.
Gonzalez started at 7-over 79, but had a 1-under 71 over the course of his final two rounds and finished as part of a three-way tie for ninth place at 5-over 221.
Also representing Rio Grande was senior Whit Byrd (Pomeroy, OH), who placed 20th at 10-over 226, and freshman Juan Carlo Gil Perez (Malaga, Spain), who finished 29th at 14-over 230
Byrd was in fourth place at 2-under 142 after two rounds and Gil Perez was 12th at 3-over 147, but both crashed - Byrd by 16 positions and Gil Perez by 17 spots - after each carded an 11-over 83 over the final 18 holes.
Rio Grande also had a pair of reserve squads in action over the weekend, with its "B" team placing 10th and its "C" team 12th in the 13-team Alice Lloyd Invitational at Battlefield Golf Club in Richmond, Ky.
The RedStorm "B" team posted a 77-over par 637, while the "C" unit was at 164-over par 724.
Murray State (OK) College won the team title at 30-over par 590, with Walters State in second at 37-over 597 and Kentucky State taking third at 38-over 598.
Freshman Yianni Giakoumakis (Vancouver, B.C., Canada) had the top showing among Rio's "B" team members, finishing as part of a six-way tie for 23rd at 14-over 154.
The remainder of the "B" roster were part of four-way tie for 49th place at 21-over 161. The trio included sophomore Jacob Smeeks (Belpre, OH), freshman Jorge Del Solar (Chochabomba, Bolivia) and freshman Connor Ingels (New Haven, WV).
Rio's top "C" team score came from Eli Adkins, who tied for 64th place at 32-over 172.
Also representing the RedStorm on the "C" team was sophomore Tanner Lisle (Racine, OH), who tied for 67th place at 35-over 175; senior Zach Adkins (Albany, OH), who was 69th at 45-over 185; and sophomore Lance Stewart (Racine, OH), who placed 70th at 52-over par 192.
Point Park University's Troy Loughry won the individual title at 1-under 139.
Rio's varsity team is scheduled to return to action April 13 and 14 at the Marietta College Tournament at the Marietta Country Club in Marietta, Ohio.
The RedStorm reserve squad is back in action Monday and Tuesday as part of the Ohio Christian University Invitational at the Crown Hill Golf Club.