LANCASTER, PA – West Chester's
Ryan D'Ariano (West Chester, Pa./Bayard Rustin) and
Connor Strine (Lancaster, Pa./Manheim) opened the 2023 NCAA Division II Men's Golf Atlantic/East Regional with a solid first round to keep themselves in contention on a gorgeous Thursday afternoon.
D'Ariano sits in a tie for 29th place following round one while Strine is just a few strokes back in a tie for 61st place. Donte Groppuso from St. Thomas Aquinas College (STAC) is the overall individual leader. He shot a 3-under 69 to top the leaderboard. Adelphi holds the top spot on the team leaderboard after the first day of competition.
D'Ariano was +2 on the front end in the morning, parring seven of the first nine holes. He birdied two on the back nine and was even through 15. However, D'Ariano bogeyed three of the final four holes on the way into the clubhouse and finished with a 4-over 76. He finished with two birdies and six bogeys.
Strine struggled on No. 3 and was +6 on the front end. But, he birdied 13 and was only 1-over on the back nine by the 15th hole. He got into the clubhouse with a 7-over 79. He notched one birdie, three bogeys and two double-bogeys.
Both golfers are right in the mix heading into the second day of the three-round tournament.
Day 2 of the NCAA Division II Atlantic/East Regional gets under way Friday at 9 a.m. from Iron Valley. The 54-hole event will conclude Saturday afternoon.
