Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Athletics

Men’s Golf Wins Shark Invitational; Shatters Program's Three-Round Record

10/8/2024 5:30:00 PM | By: Kyrin Mayfield

Results
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - For just the second time in Embry-Riddle men's golf's NCAA II era, the Eagles (-15) are tournament champions after claiming the Shark Invitational by 11 strokes on Tuesday. It's the first time the program won in a field composed primarily of NCAA II schools. ERAU did claim victory at the 2023 Daytona Beach Spring Invitational, but that was against NCAA I programs.

Embry-Riddle shot a 288 in round three to end with 837 total strokes, which shattered the program record by 20 shots. That mark was well-ahead of second place RV Flagler (848) and third place No. 11 Nova Southeastern (851). The Eagles also beat other notable opponents including No. 16 Barry, No. 25 Palm Beach Atlantic, RV Lynn and RV Union. Play was held at the par-71, 6,750-yard Grande Oaks Golf Club.

It capped off an incredible tournament that also saw Kim tie the collegiate single-round record (60) and the squad break the team single-round program record (260). Brief research suggests the team score may also be an NCAA II record, but no official record book exists outside of national tournament play.

Embry-Riddle was successful no matter what the hole's par was. The Eagles were the only team in the red on par-3s (2.92, -4) and led the field in stroke average on par-4s (4.08). On par-5s, ERAU was a whopping 14 under par. Additionally, the Blue and Gold produced the most birdies with 53 below-par holes.

All five Eagles finished inside the top 30. Tiago Barni (64-72-71=207) and Joon Kim (60-74-75=209) recorded career-best three-round scores while Edoardo Scialanga (68-74-70=212), Ryan Gear (70-73-72=215) and Ian Ball (68-70-79=217) set season bests. Additionally, Barni's total was the second-lowest 54-hole score ever recorded by an Eagle while Kim's 209 strokes were tied for the third-lowest.

Three Eagles were within striking distance of the top of the individual leaderboard, but it was Barni who finished as the top member of the Blue and Gold in a tie for second, a personal-best result. The senior finished strong by going three under throughout the final 12 holes. Barni found success on a variety of holes, tying for third in stroke average on par-4s (3.94) and tying for fifth on par-3s (2.92). His 12 birdies ranked tied for seventh among all competitors.

Kim also earned a career-best placement as the sophomore tied for fifth. He led the squad in birdies with 13, which also tied for the third most in the field. Just like Barni, Kim found success on par-3s, averaging 2.83 strokes to tie for the third-best average in the tournament, and on par-4s with 4.03 average strokes (T-6th).

Scialanga increased his streak of consecutive top-20 finishes to five as he ended the day tied for 13th. The Rome, Italy product shot out of the gate by going four under par in the opening 11 holes, leading to a team-low 70 on Tuesday. Scialanga was another Eagle who thrived on par-3s. He went three under par (2.75 average) on such holes, which was tied for the third-best mark out of 63 competitors.

Gear was fairly consistent, firing rounds between 70 to 73 strokes while Ball sat tied for fifth in stroke average on par-3s (2.92).

Ethan Gough, competing on Barry's 'B' team, won the individual title by two shots over Barni.

Embry-Riddle has one final tournament scheduled on its fall slate. The Eagles will compete in the Citrus Intercollegiate from Oct. 28-29 in ChampionsGate, Florida.

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