Sophomore Carson Baez and freshman Lucas Rizo-Patron were each named winners of three Atlantic 10 Conference weekly golf awards for the first half of the spring semester, according to an April 2 announcement from the league.
The recognition highlights their strong performances in several tournaments. Baez was named Golfer of the Week and Rizo-Patron was named Rookie of the Week for the weeks ending February 13, February 20, and March 13. No other golfer in the conference received more than one award during this period.
Both athletes earned their initial awards following their results at the Lake Jovita Invitational in mid-February. Baez finished as individual runner-up while Rizo-Patron tied for 33rd place, contributing to Richmond’s fifth-place team finish out of fourteen teams. The following week at the Loyola Intercollegiate, they helped Richmond set a new program record with a team score of 34-under par (830), leading to a tournament win. Baez shot a program-record 17-under par to secure his first collegiate individual victory; Rizo-Patron finished at one under par, tying for thirty-eighth.
Their third round of weekly honors came after competing in the Donald Ross Collegiate Classic in mid-March where Richmond won again. Baez tied for first at six under par but finished as runner-up after a playoff hole; Rizo-Patron tied for ninth at three under par—his first top-ten finish.
These are Baez’s first A-10 Player of the Week awards after being recognized five times as Rookie of the Week last season. For Rizo-Patron, it marks his fourth time earning Rookie of the Week honors since joining Richmond’s team.
Looking ahead, Richmond has two scheduled events remaining: next week’s Giles-Spratley Collegiate at Independence Golf Club in Midlothian, Virginia and then competing in the Atlantic 10 Championship from April 27 through April 29 in Orlando.
