ORLANDO -- Davidson won its fifth Atlantic 10 Men's Golf Championship Thursday with a 10-under 854, rallying into first place on the final holes Thursday at Evermore Orlando Result.
Davidson entered the final day trailing first-place Richmond by five strokes. The Spiders held their lead most of the day, but the ‘Cats rallied on the final holes, with Nate Faulkner, who won Most Outstanding Rookie honors, pared 18 to give Davidson the one-stroke victory. Joshua Stewart (74-71-67) and Faulkner (69-72-71) each finished third with a 212 and Will Davis placed seventh, carding a 214 (73-72-69) to give the Wildcats three top 10 finishers. Davidson earns the Atlantic 10's bid to NCAA Regionals. Davis and Stewart were both named All-Conference and Stewart was voted A-10 Player of the Year.
Dayton's Ben Cors won medalist honors, shooting a 205 (71-66-68) over the three round. Cors advances to NCAA Regional play as an individual. He led the Flyers to a third-place finish with an 862.
Richmond placed second with an 855. The Spiders entered the day with the five-stroke lead after a second-day surge where they were 11-under as a team. Cole Ekert finished second overall and was UR’s top golfer with a 210 (70-70-70). Carson Baez tied for seventh with a 214 (68-72-74). Both Ekert and Baez were named All-Conference.
VCU (864) placed fourth, led by Jacob Conklin’s 212 (74-71-67). All-Conference selection Caden Scarbrough was part of the tie for seventh with a 214 (74-69-71) for the Rams. Loyola Chicago was fifth with an 875.
Rodrigo Barahona finished sixth with a 213 (71-70-72) and earned All-Conference. St. Bonaventure’s Michael Bucko rounded out the top 10 players, tying for seventh with a 214 (71-74-69).
The A-10’s Rookie of the Year award went to Luke Stennett for his play during the year. He finished 28
th at the A-10 Championship with a 224 (71-76-77).
Richmond’s Adam Decker was named A-10 Coach of the Year for the fourth time.
George Mason’s Samir Davidov and Vaughn McMeans and VCU’s Braden O’Grady rounded out the 10-person All-Conference team.
ATLANTIC 10 MEN'S GOLF AWARDS
Player of the Year: Joshua Stewart, Davidson
Rookie of the Year: Luke Stennett, Rhode Island
Coach of the Year: Adam Decker, Richmond
Medalist: Ben Cors, Dayton
Most Outstanding Rookie: Nate Faulkner, Davidson
All-Conference
Joshua Stewart, Davidson
Will Davis, Davidson
Samir Davidov, George Mason
Vaughn McMeans, George Mason
Rodrigo Barahona, George Washington
Luke Stennett, Rhode Island
Coel Ekert, Richmond
Carson Baez, Richmond
Braden O’Grady, VCU
Caden Scarbrough, VCU