University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
BIG EAST CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP
UCONN GOLFERS CAPTURE BIG EAST CHAMPIONSHIP
4/28/2021 5:08:00 PM | Men's Golf
Will Advance To NCAA Regionals
UConn Athletic Communications / April 28, 2021
BOWLING GREEN, Fla. – The UConn men's golf team has made its first season back in the BIG EAST Conference one to remember.
Led by freshman Jimmy Paradise, who equaled his finest collegiate round with a 4-under 68, the Huskies fought off a back nine challenge from Marquette in Wednesday's third and final round to capture the 2021 BIG EAST Men's Golf Championship and earn the league's automatic qualifier to the NCAA Regionals. UConn's only other BIG EAST title came in 1994.
The Huskies, who led Marquette by two strokes after Tuesday's second round, widened the gap on the front nine Wednesday, but the Golden Eagles rallied to catch UConn and even grab a one-shot lead before the Huskies regained control over the final three holes. UConn posted a 5-over, 292-285-292=869, to win by six strokes over Marquette at the Streamsong Resort.
Paradise (Tampa, Fla.) set the tone for UConn with three straight birdies to open his round and he added three more along the way to post his 68 and finish the tournament with a 2-under, 71-75-68=214, leaping from 12th place to finish third. It was the lowest tournament total of the season and the first Top 10 finish for Paradise, who led the 45-player field with 38 pars.
The rest of UConn's Round 3 counted scores included an even-par 72 by junior Jared Nelson, a 3-over 75 by freshman Caleb Manuel and a 5-over 77 by freshman Tommy Dallahan.
For the tournament, UConn placed three golfers in the top 10, four in the top 20, and all five in the top 30.
Manuel (Topsham, Me.) finished right behind Paradise in fourth place, his third Top 10 finish of the year, with a 1-under 74-66-75=215. Nelson (Rutland, Vt.) captured ninth place, his third in the Top 10 finish, with a 1-over, 74-71-72=217, and led the tourney in Par 5 scoring at 6-under and recorded two eagles. Senior Rodrigo Sanchez (Santo Domingo, D.R.) tied for 18th place with an 8-over, 73-73-78=224 and Dallahan (Simsbury, Conn.) tied for 30th with a 13-over, 74-78-77=229.
Marquette, which won the league crown last year, finished in the runner-up spot (11-over, 875) and the rest of the leaderboard included (in order): Seton Hall (18-over, 882), Butler (19-over, 883), Villanova (23-over, 887), DePaul (29-over, 893), Xavier (31-over, 895), Creighton (42-over, 906) and Georgetown (60-over, 924).
Individually, Butler's Michael Cascino and Marquette's Hunter Eichhorn officially tied for medalist honors, each with a 7-under 209. Cascino topped Eichhorn in a three-hole, sudden death playoff to earn a trip to NCAA play.
UConn will be advancing to NCAA play as a team for the eighth time overall, but its first since 1999 (1964, 1979, 1980, 1993, 1997, 1998, 1999).
NCAA Regional competition will be held on May 17-19 at six sites – The Sagamore Club (Noblesville, Ind.), Seminole Legacy Golf Club (Tallahassee, Fla.), Championship Course at UNM (Albuquerque, N.M.), Karsten Creek Golf Club (Stillwater, Okla.), Golf Club of Tennessee (Kingston Springs, Tenn.) and Tumble Creek Golf & Country Club (Cle Elum, Wash.).
Three of the six regional sites will have 13 teams and 10 individuals competing, while the other three sites will have 14 teams and five individuals competing. The top five teams from each regional (30 teams total) and the low individual not on an advancing team from each regional (six individuals) will advance to the NCAA National Championships at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Ariz., on May 28-June 2.
UConn will learn its regional site when the field is announced on the NCAA Selection Show, televised on The Golf Channel on May 5 at 2 p.m.
Players Mentioned
