Results

ERIE, Pa. (May 10) – The Vulcans registered their best finish at the NCAA Atlantic/East Regional Championships since 2013 when they placed seventh in the team standings following the final round on Saturday afternoon.

The California (PA) men's golf team carded an 11-over 299 in the third round to close the tournament at 55-over 919 (299-321-299). The Vulcans fired multiple sub-300 rounds at the event for the first time in over a decade. Davis & Elkins and Gannon tied for the tournament lead after 54 holes with the Senators being declared the regional champion, as the aggregate total of the fifth non-playing golfer was the deciding factor after lack of light prevented a playoff possibility. D&E (294-300-294) claimed its second regional title in the last three years with Gannon (299-289-300) earning the crown last spring. Charleston (WV) placed third in the team standings with a 39-over 903 (304-306-293) and earned the final team qualifier for the NCAA National Championships.

Senior Cole Villa fired a two-over 74 on Saturday to finish in a tie for 14th overall with a nine-over 225 (75-76-74). He recorded the top-individual finish at the regional championships since Ryan Smith tied for 10th place in 2019. Villa opened the final round on the back nine and made the turn at one-under with back-to-back birdies on holes 12 and 13. The 5-foot-10 senior tied for the team lead with nine birdies at the event held at Whispering Woods Golf Course.

Sophomore Gavin Goodrich also carded a two-over 74 in the final round and closed the event tied for 28th place with a 13-over 229 (76-79-74). He collected four birdies on Saturday, highlighted by a pair of birdies on par threes. Goodrich tied Villa for the team lead in birdies while in Erie and also tallied 30 pars over the three rounds.

Fellow sophomore Chaz Ekoniak tied for 40th overall at 16-over 232 (74-83-75) in his debut at the regional championships following a three-over 75 on Saturday. He opened the final round with a pair of birdies on three holes and later closed the tournament with six-consecutive pars.

Sophomore Anthony DePietress and freshman Nixen Erdely tied for 53rd place with a 20-over 236 following the final round. Erdely (77-83-76) shot a four-over 76 on Saturday behind a trio of birdies before making the turn. DePietress (74-84-78) finished with a six-over 78 in the final round after shooting par on his initial eight holes.

D&E freshman Aidan Talent captured the individual title by one stroke after leading the event wire-to-wire. He finished with a three-under 213 (68-73-72) behind an impressive 14 birdies and only 10 holes over par.

The event hosted by Gannon featured 20 team qualifiers and eight individual qualifiers.

CAL RESULTS AT NCAA REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
T-14. Cole Villa +9 | 225 (75-76-74)
T-28. Gavin Goodrich +13 | 229 (76-79-74)
T-40. Chaz Ekoniak +16 | 232 (74-83-75)
T-53. Nixen Erdely +20 | 236 (77-83-76)
T-53. Anthony DePietress +20 | 236 (74-84-78)