Men's Golf | May 1, 2016

ORLANDO, Fla. - Graduate student Tonny Aizpun capped off his collegiate career with a two-over 74 to lead the La Salle golf team to an eighth place finish at the 2016 Atlantic 10 Championship at the Grand Cypress Resort in Orlando. Aizpun tied for seventh with his 72-77-74=223 (+7) showing and becomes the first Explorer to post a pair of top ten showings at the A-10 Tournament.

The Barcelona native started on the tenth hole and made four birdies in his first 11 holes to get to three-under. He played the final seven holes in five-over, but that did not diminish an outstanding two-year career after transferring from Mount St. Mary's. He has the unusual distinction of earning all-conference honors in two different conferences, picking up all-NEC during his sophomore year and all-A-10 last year after his third place finish.

"I'm glad Tonny went out with a strong round and another great performance at A-10s," head coach Brad Kane said. "He did a lot here in just two years and we were very fortunate to have him."

As a team, La Salle finished eighth after carding a 312 (+24) on Sunday. Nevertheless, the Explorers set a school record for lowest average score (301.9) this season. La Salle was three shots out of seventh and six shots behind sixth. The best finish La Salle has had at A-10s was seventh in 2012. 

Junior P.J. Acierno shot a two-over 74 to cap off his tournament at +12. After an opening round 81, he recovered with two strong rounds of 73 and 74. Acierno had four birdies on Sunday and tied for 22nd. He set a new school record for lowest season scoring average (74.2). 

Freshman Andrew Reynolds had a tough time on Sunday with an 80 (+8) but tied for 20th with a 74-73-80=227 (+11). His finish was the best by an Explorer freshman and he also set the freshman scoring record with his 76.4 average this season.

"We rewrote the record book here at La Salle so I'm very proud of this group," Kane said.

Junior Joe Markmann had an 84 (+12) on Sunday and tied for 46th in the field (82-78-84=244, +28). Freshman Nick Geiman placed 54th with a 79-83-88=250 (+34).

VCU won its third straight A-10 Championship at +18, beating Richmond by seven strokes. Dayton (+32), George Washington (+45) and Fordham (+48) rounded out the top five.

Adam Ball of VCU ran away with the medalist honors at four-under, beating teammate Steffan Harm by six strokes. 

The Explorers return everyone except for Aizpun next year and will look to continue its upward momentum as a program.