Freshman Ryan D’Ariano demonstrated strong playing abilities to the field at the Mike Bello Invitational at Sunset Ridge Golf Club (par 72, 6,604 yards) April 9–10. His score of 72 During Round One helped the Rams record a team score of 296 to share second place with Laval University. Topping the leaderboard after Round One was Le Moyne College with a score of 286. Co-leaders after Round One were Laval University’s David Tweddell and Le Moyne College’s Tyler Birdd who both fired 70.
D’Ariano opened Round One with an even par 72. His scoring throughout the round was nothing short of steady. Bogies on holes Nos. 10 (par 4, 395 yards), 12 (par 3, 167 yards) and 15 (par 3, 163 yards) were corrected with red figures on Nos. 9 (par 5, 494 yards), 14 (par 5, 529 yards) and 18 (par 5, 546 yards).
“I didn’t blow up on any [holes],” the first-year middle grades 4–8 education and special education student said. “My mindset was to keep the ball in play, don’t hit it in the water [or] don’t hit it out of bounds [and] stay positive.”
In the team competition, West Chester fired 296. Fletcher Masterson shot 2-over 74, while Connor Strine and Brock Fassnacht both carded 3-over 75s. The WCU guys registered 11 birdies for their Round One team score. Two eagles were also carded by Brock Fassnacht and Fletcher Masterson.
Round One Scores:
| Ryan D’Ariano | 72 |
| Fletcher Masterson | 74 |
| Connor Strine | 75 |
| Brock Fassnacht | 75 |
| Jacob Sokalsky | 76 |
| Hamilton McNaughton | 80 |
| Team Score | 296 |
Notes:
During Round One, senior captain Brock Fassnacht carded an eagle on No. 13 (par 5, 574 yards). After his tee shot, he hit a 3-wood from 235 yards to 3 feet for a tap in. This is his second eagle of the season which puts his career eagles just two back from tying the record for most career eagles by a player, which was set at 13 by Andrew Patterson (2014-17).
D’Ariano Delivers in Round Two
During Round Two of the Mike Bello Invitational, which was contested April 10 at Sunset Ridge Golf Club, D’Ariano dazzled the field with an impressive 3-under 69 to take the day’s low round and first place overall in the individual competition.
“I said ‘If I play like I can, I will win this golf tournament,’” D’Ariano said. “It turns out that I did and I was thrilled about that.”
D’Ariano started out his round on the right foot by making birdie on his first hole, which was No. 18 (par 5, 546 yards). Three more fell on his front side on Nos. 3 (par 3, 144 yards), 5 (par 4, 383 yards) and 7 (par 5, 612 yards). He carded one bogey on his outward nine on No. 6 (par 3, 178 yards). Heading in, he picked up another red figure on No. 13 (par 5, 574 yards) as well as a bogey on No. 15 (par 3, 163 yards). 2-under-par 34 on the front coupled with a 1-under 35 on the back combined for his winning score of 3-under 69.
“I always go into the tournament thinking that I could win,” D’Ariano said. “I never actually thought I was going to win. I didn’t think that was actually going to happen.”
Matching D’Ariano’s 141 total, was Laval University’s David Tweddell (70, 71) and Johnny Gruinger of Le Moyne College (70,71). D’Ariano’s day two low round gave him the crown.
Connor Strine also found a Top 5 finish in New York with rounds of 75 and 70 to finish T4.
“[It] feels great to finish in the Top 5, especially with a solid final round,” second year team member Connor Strine said. “I had a tough week last tournament, so it was important to get some quality play in before an important tournament at IUP.”
In the team competition WCU (296, 286) placed second with a total score of 582 . Topping the team leaderboard was Le Moyne College (286, 294) who bettered West Chester by two strokes.
“The team performed well, especially the second day,” Strine said. “We put up a really good number on day 2 which gives us validation that we can compete with the best in our region. We just have to keep building off of that result and try to find some momentum heading into IUP and eventually regionals.”
Round Two Scores:
| Ryan D’Ariano | 69 | 141 |
| Connor Strine | 70 | 145 |
| Jacob Sokalsky | 71 | 147 |
| Fletcher Masterson | 76 | 150 |
| Brock Fassnacht | 77 | 152 |
| Hamilton McNaughton | 77 | 157 |
| Team Score | 286 | 582 |
Notes:
Brock Fassnacht picked up another eagle during his closing round on No. 14 (par 5, 529 yards). After his drive, he hit a 6-iron from 190 yards to 25-feet and made the putt. His third of the spring season and 12th in his college career puts him just one eagle shy of tying the most career eagles by a player in school history which Andrew Patterson (2014-17) set at 13.
By. John T. Iswalt Men’s Golf Correspondent, Senior – Media and Culture major Digital Marketing minor