Lucas Rizo-Patron, a freshman on the Richmond Spiders men’s golf team, finished in second place after the first round of the Atlantic 10 Championship at Evermore Resort, according to an April 27 report. Rizo-Patron shot a 4-under-par 68 and is one stroke behind the leader with two rounds remaining.
The tournament is significant for Richmond as they are tied for fifth out of twelve teams with a total score of eight-over-par (296). VCU leads after one round at three-under-par (285), followed by George Mason at two-under. The standings show that Dayton (+5), George Washington (+7), Richmond (+8), and Rhode Island (+8) are closely grouped in the middle of the leaderboard.
Rizo-Patron made five birdies during his round, with his only bogey coming on the par-4 fifth hole. He was named Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Week four times this season and moved up the leaderboard by making three consecutive birdies on holes thirteen through fifteen. “I was just trying to have a lot of fun,” said Rizo-Patron. “That was really key. Relaxing and staying happy.” He added, “Mentally, I was really good. The course is playing pretty hard, so just try to keep yourself in the right spots and commit to the shots you’ve got to hit.”
Junior Quin Polin also finished strong with an even-par 72 and is among the top ten players after matching five bogeys with five birdies in his opening round. Sophomore Carson Baez ended tied for twenty-seventh at three-over-par (75) after finishing his day with two bogeys.
Other Richmond golfers include junior Jack LaPiana, who is tied for forty-ninth at nine-over-par (81) after previously finishing in the top fifteen twice at this event, and junior Parker Moellinger who sits one shot back at ten-over-par but played his final six holes two-under par.
Richmond recorded eighteen birdies in Round One—the second most among all teams—but had only forty-four pars, which was fewer than any other team competing. Rizo-Patron commented on course conditions: “I think approach shots are pretty hard, especially with how [the wind] blows so much,” he said about navigating Evermore Resort’s layout. “So just being really mindful and hitting your shots is really important.”
The Spiders will play alongside George Washington and Rhode Island during Round Two beginning Tuesday morning.
