NORMAN, Okla. - - For the first time in program history, the Wilmington University golf team featured three members on the Division II PING all-East Region Team, as Freddy Braun, Andreas Lunding, and Joey Russo were honored earlier this week.
The Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) announced a total of 116 players across eight regions. The East Region team featured 12 members, three of which being a Wilmington Wildcat.
The three members are the most on the Division II PING All-East Region Team since the Wildcats had two members (Dan Ott and PJ Tighe) in 2012. The Wildcats had one member on each of the 2013 and 2014 All-Region Teams.
Russo (Sewell, N.J.), a freshman, led the Wildcats through the 2015 postseason, finishing in a tie atop the individual leaderboard in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Tournament, a tie for 14th in the NCAA Division II Atlantic/East Super Regional, and in a tie for 33rd in the NCAA Division II National Championship.
In 22 rounds in 2014-15, Russo led the Wildcats with an average score of 74.91 strokes per round. He averaged a score of 3.45 over par, with a GolfStat.com adjusted score of 2.92 strokes per round. The GolfStat.com adjusted scores takes into account the tournament, the course, and the opponents played. He won the Dr. Edwin B. Cottrell Invitational hosted by West Chester before finishing stop the leaderboard at the CACC Tournament. He ended up losing on a playoff hole in the CACC Tournament to teammate Freddy Braun.
Lunding (Horsholm, Denmark), a junior, earned All-Region for the second time in his career as he was also named a PING All-East Region performer in 2013. Lunding was the second best Wildcat at the Super Regional, finishing fourth overall. He also finished 12th at the CACC Tournament and 70th at the NCAA Division II National Championship. He earned medalist honors at the Goldey-Beacom Spring Invitational for his lone victory of the year.
In 29 rounds during the 2014-15 season, Lunding averaged 75.79 strokes per round, coming in at 4.21 over par every time out on the course. He posted a 3.36 adjusted GolfStat.com score for the year. He finished sixth in the region and 390th in the division according to GolfStat.com.
Braun (Stuttgart, Germany), a sophomore, captured the CACC Tournament on the first playoff hole after shooting a 70 in the first round. He shot a 74 on the final round of the NCAA Division II Atlantic/East Super Regional, placing 46th overall before finishing the year in 81st at the NCAA Division II National Tournament.
In 21 rounds throughout the 2014-15 season, Braun averaged 77.24 strokes per round. He averaged a scored of 5.57 over par, with a GolfStat.com adjusted score of 4.77 strokes per round. He also finished seventh at the Spring Griffin Invitational and eighth overall at the Dennis Rose Invitational hosted by the University of Hawaii at Hilo.
As a whole, the Wildcats claimed their second ever Super Regional Championship, beating the field by five strokes. In their fourth ever NCAA Division II National Championship, the Wildcats finished 16th overall.
AGATE:
2015 Division II PING All-East Region:
Freddy Braun, Wilmington
Aiden Fuller, Le Moyne
Kevin Gately, St. Thomas Aquinas
Christopher Gentle, St. Thomas Aquinas
Niklaus Koerner, St. Thomas Aquinas
Petter Lehmann, Dowling
Andreas Lunding, Wilmington
Dan Molter, Le Moyne
Malcolm Oliver, Bentley
Kai Rastetter, St. Thomas Aquinas
Joey Russo, Wilmington
Jon Stoddard, Bentley