May 12, 2021

The Basics

• The lead: The Stevens Institute of Technology golf team wrapped up play at the program's first-ever NCAA Division III Championship Wednesday, trimming 23 shots off their opening round score to finish with a two-day score of 641 through 36 holes. Junior Eddie Sot led the Ducks with an 18-over 159 through two rounds. 
• Score: Stevens (332-609=641) - 30th place out of 37 teams
• Location: Palmer Course at Oglebay (Speidel Golf Club at Oglebay) - Wheeling, W.Va.. (Par 70 - 6,621 yards)
• Short Story: Although Sot finished with the Ducks' two-round low score, it was senior Luke Labenski that carded the lowest round of the day, using a 2-over score on the back nine to finish with a 6-over 76 on his final round as a Stevens student-athlete. As a team, the Ducks trimmed 23 shots off their opening-round score, marking the fifth-biggest turnaround of any team in the field. 
• The Leaderboard: Defending national champion Illinois Wesleyan University maintained its lead from the first day of competition, shooting 6-over 286 on the day to hold a five-shot lead over Methodist University, who totaled 1-over 281 for the lowest total score of the day to climb into second place. Guilford College sits in third, 12 shots off the pace, while Denison University (+26) and Carnegie Mellon University (+27) round out the top-five. Individually, Methodist's Andre Chi was 5-under for the day to climb to the top of the leaderboard. Chi has a four-stroke lead over Nebraska Wesleyan University's Alex Kubik, Illinois Wesleyan's Jimmy Morton and Webster University's Will Hocker, who are all even through 36 holes. The top 18 schools advanced to the third and fourth rounds, with a two-round score of 605 serving as the cut line. 

The Finishes

• Sot shot a 79, trimming one shot off his opening-round score. The junior carded 11 pars and one birdie.
• Sophomore Eegan McDermott and first-year Gus Vickers finished Wednesday's play by shooting a 7-over 77. McDermott birdied three holes and totaled seven pars. He was especially strong on the back nine, shooting an even-par 35. Vickers shot 3-over on the front nine and four-over on the back nine, totaling 10 pars and one birdie. Both student-athletes knocked six shots off the first round score.
• In his final collegiate event, senior Vincent Cortese trimmed three shots off his opening-round score to finish 13-over for the day.
• Over the course of their two days in Wheeling, the Ducks totaled 76 pars and 13 birdies. The event wraps up the most successful season in program history, one that saw the Ducks finish no lower than third in any tournament, post one tournament victory, win a match play event for the first time since 2011, and capture the program's first-ever conference championship. 

From the Greens (Head Coach Charles Papendick)

• "I was thrilled with our bounce back day today. It was the largest event we've ever participated in, obviously, and our inexperience showed yesterday. I'm so proud of our student-athletes for coming back to the course today and not giving in or giving up."
• "I'm proud of our student-athletes and so happy for each of them. This was the best season we've ever had as a program, and more importantly, it was the hardest season our players ever experienced due to the protocols in place simply to allow us to actually compete, so it was very rewarding. We thank our athletic administrators and sports medicine team for allowing the players to compete and attain the success they achieved."
• "Regarding our seniors, Viviane Farnung was an absolute pleasure to have on our squad and I certainly hope she continues to play after graduating. Vincent Cortese and Luke Labenski, our two senior captains....what can I say? The three of us joined Stevens Golf at the same time and without their tireless efforts and assistance over the past four years, we wouldn't have realized the recent success we've enjoyed. Period. Their impact on our younger players is already showing and while their golf career at Stevens may be ending, success for these two special and unselfish young men, will follow them through life."

Up Next

• Continue to log on to StevensDucks.com for offseason news and notes. 

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