Reynolds Sets Program Scoring Record, Men's Golf Places Second at RIC Invitational

WARWICK, R.I. - Saints junior Ian Reynolds (East Haven, Conn.) became the first player in team history to shoot an 18-hole round of even-par, carding a 72 (E), to set a new 18-hole program scoring record, all while claiming his second career medalist honors and leading the Saints golf team to a second place finish on Saturday at the Rhode Island College Invitational at Valley Country Club.

Reynolds claimed victory by eight shots, taking the win from second place Cameron Mello of Rhode Island College and Saints first-year Ryan Brunet (Peabody, Mass.) as both players shot an eight-over-par, 80. Brunet's tie for second place is his career-best finish as a Saint.

After starting his round with a front side of 2-over, 38, with bogeys on five and nine, Reynolds caught fire on the back nine to record the lowest score in team history by two shots. On the par-4 10th, Reynolds knocked a wedge to 15 feet and converted for birdie, getting back to 1-over. Reynolds followed with another birdie on 11 after knocking his second shot to 20 feet from 205 yards, getting back to even on the round.

The birdies continued on the 13th with the junior captain making his longest putt of the day, a downhill, left-to-right, 40-footer, that moved him to 1-under. After a par on 14, Reynolds found trouble off the tee on the par-4 15th, eventually leaving him 115 yards on his third shot. His third rattled off the flagstick and bounced out to eight feet. The ensuing putt found the bottom of the cup to save par, keeping Reynolds at 1-under.

After a par on 16, Reynolds made bogey on the par-3 17th hole, three-putting his way to a bogey to return to even par.

On the par-5 18th, with a chance to break par, Reynolds had 143 yards for his third and knocked that shot to 20 feet, giving him a makeable look to shoot under par. His effort from 20 feet just missed but a tap-in par gave Reynolds an eight-shot win at the event and the new program record for lowest 18-hole round, breaking the old record of 74, a record that has stood for nearly 10 years.

Saints senior Connor Maguire (Old Lyme, Conn.) finished in seventh after a round of 14-over, 86. Senior Thomas Sullivan (Whitman, Mass.) was the final counting score for the Saints after shooting 102. The combined score of Reynolds, Brunet, Maguire, and Sullivan came out to 350, good for second place in the team competition, falling just three shots short to Rhode Island College, who shot 347 on the day.

Emmanuel returns to the course next Saturday, April 20, for the Gordon College Shootout at Wenham Country Club.