Men's Golf | 10/17/2023 3:02:00 PM

AVE MARIA, Fla.- The Ave Maria University men's golf team excelled at the first Gyrene Invitational, held Monday and Tuesday at The National at Ave Maria Golf & Country Club. The Ave Maria "A" team finished second in a field of six teams, with two golfers - Gabriel DeCasas and Ty Kaufman - finishing in the top five overall. Ave Maria recorded a score of 891 at the Gyrene Invitational, breaking the previous 54-hole team record by two strokes.

Southeastern claimed the team title in Ave Maria, with Matthew Soucinek going five under par to win the individual crown.

Gabriel DeCasas led the Gyrenes in the first round, going to the clubhouse with a share of the lead thanks to a two-under 70. Alex Veneziano had his best round of the tournament at 73, while Ty Kaufman carded a 75 on a cool Southwest Florida morning. Matt Mullen rounded out Ave Maria's team score of 294 in Monday's opening round, shooting a four over par 76.

In the second set of 18 holes on Monday, Kaufman put together one of the tournament's best rounds. The sophomore shot a three-under 69, moving into a tie for third place with DeCasas, who carded a 74. Mullen cut one stroke off his score with a three-over 75, while Veneziano rounded out AMU's score with a 76. The scores wound up identical to the first round for the Gyrenes, another 294.

During Tuesday's final round, DeCasas rose back to the top of the AMU pack, shooting an even par round of 72. Mullen once again cut a stroke off his score, ending the tournament with a 74. Kaufman was third among Gyrenes with a 77 in the final round, while Eric Cherubini rounded out AMU's team score of 303 with an 80.

DeCasas finished second in the field, with his even par score ahead of three All-Sun Conference selections from last season in Kade Cannon, Vedant Sirohi, and Clay Jacobs. Kaufman's 221 was good for fifth overall, while Matt Mullen was in the top ten at 225. Veneziano and Eric Cherubini rounded out the team score with efforts of 230 and 240, respectively.

In addition to the performance from the "A" team, the Gyrenes also entered a second team into the field, as well as a pair of individuals. AMU's second team consisted of AJ Cherubini, Joe Pakaluk, Derek Calahan, Benny Achziger, and Troy Nason. The "B" team finished fifth, ahead of Florida College, and were led by a 241 from AJ Cherubini. Pierre Westhoff and Joey Farrell also competed as individuals during the tournament.

The final event of the golf program's fall schedule is in two week's time. The Gyrenes will return the favor to Southeastern, travelling to the SEU Fire Invitational in Lakeland. The Southeastern tournament, scheduled for October 30 and 31, will be played at the Grasslands Golf & Country Club, a Jerry Pate & Bob Cupp designed course in Lakeland.