In a showcase of great golfing, Villanova’s golf team earned third place in the Nassau Invitational in Glen Cove, N.Y.
The fairways of Glen Cove hosted a 10-team field, which saw Long Island finish in first place with a score of 861. Rhode Island followed with a score of 866, earning second, while the Wildcats netted third overall with a score of 874.
The results were largely representative of the first day of play, as the Wildcats ended day one 25 over par, seven strokes behind Rhode Island (+18) and a near-insurmountable 16 strokes behind Long Island University.
Sophomore Ryan Pamer, senior Peter Weaver and graduate PJ O’Rourke were the players to watch on the first day. Pamer matched par in both the first and second round (70), ending day one tied for second place. Weaver navigated the course well, shooting five-over (75) in round one and showing improvement in the second round, shooting four-over (74) and leaving him nine-over and tied for 17th place. O’Rourke shot one-over (71) in round one and then six-over in the second round (76), exiting the day tied for 13th and in good position.
On day two the team ended with a score that was slightly less favorable than day one’s results. The Wildcats finished with a team score of 34-over par, with Pamer, Weaver and O’Rourke continuing to lead the team.
Pamer continued to piece together solid rounds and ended with a final round four shots over (74). The sophomore standout finished four-over and tied the field for third place. Weaver continued to improve throughout the tournament, breaking even and shooting for par in the final round. Weaver would end up placing nine-over and tied for eighth place. O’Rourke cooled off after his day one performance, shooting nine-over in the final round and finishing 16-over and tied for 24th.
Freshman Peter Barros started strong with a two-over score in round one (72), then cutting off two strokes to break even in round two (70). On the final day, Barros would end up shooting five-over in round three, netting a nice seventh place finish.
With the conclusion of the Nassau Invitational, the Wildcats turn the final page on their fall season and pivot towards spring play, hoping to build off their momentum cultivated so far in the year. The spring season focuses on Big East play, in which the team will compete with its conference rivals. The golf team finished tied sixth at the conference championship last year and are widely expected and poised to place higher this year. The team tees off again in February.
