University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
UCONN INVITATIONAL AT GREATHORSE
Manuel Wins UConn Invitational, Huskies Finish Second
10/5/2021 8:04:00 PM | Men's Golf
Lopez shoots 66 with an Ace
HAMPDEN, Mass. – UConn sophomore Caleb Manuel fired his second straight sub-70 round, an impressive 5-under 67, Tuesday in the final round of the UConn Invitational at GreatHorse to capture the first individual championship of his college career.
Manuel's 11-under, 70-68-67=205, his best-ever college tourney score, won the tournament by six strokes and led a furious UConn charge in Round 3 that overcame a 14-stroke deficit, but ultimately finished second to team tourney champion Rhode Island.
There were even more highlights for the Huskies on Tuesday as freshman Trevor Lopez (Winchester, Mass.), playing as an individual, shot the best round of the tournament, a sizzling 6-under 66, which included a hole-in-one on his final hole, the 182-yard par 3 ninth.
Manuel (Topsham, Me.) was brilliant throughout, with six birdies, giving him a tourney-leading 16 birdies for the 54-hole event. He also led the tourney in scoring on the Par 4 holes (-6) and was second in the tourney in scoring on the Par 5 holes (-5).
Besides his first victory, it was the sixth Top 10 and ninth Top 20 finish of Manuel's career (11 events), the eighth and ninth sub-70 rounds of his career, and upped his total of par-or-better rounds to 18.
UConn's aggregate 13-over, 292-297-288=877, finished second to Rhode Island (875) by two strokes in the 16-team field. It was UConn's third Top 5 finish in as many events this season. The Huskies trailed Rhode Island by 14 strokes after Round 2, but their charge through Round 3 made in a neck-and-neck race until URI prevailed in the final two holes.
Also part of the UConn comeback lineup was senior Jared Nelson (Rutland, Vt.), who finished tied for 12th with a 3-over, 73-73-73+219, senior Nick Hampoian (North Reading, Mass.), who finished tied for 36th was a 10-over, 74-76-76=226, sophomore Tommy Dallahan (Simsbury, Conn.), who shot an 11-over, 75-80-72=227 to tie for 41st place, and junior Logan Broyles (Mendon, Vt.), who finished 78th with a 24-over, 77-86-77=240.
Playing as individuals, Lopez and sophomore Jimmy Paradise (Tampa, Fla.) were outstanding, tying each other for fourth place in the huge 90-player field. Lopez's 66 moved him up 20 places on the leaderboard as he finished with a 1-under, 79-70-66=215. Paradise had a 1-under, 70-75-70=215.
Also playing as individuals, freshman Vikram Konanki (Newton, Mass.) shot a 13-over, 77-77-75=229, to tie for 51st place, and freshman Eric Boulger (Walpole, Mass.) had a 17-over, 76-76-81=233 to ties for 64th place.
UConn continues its schedule on Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 11-12, traveling to Carolina Country Club in Spartanburg, S.C., to compete in the Carolina Collegiate Invitational.
Players Mentioned
