Kai Rastetter shoots a bogey free round of 61, totaling 9 birdies
The St. Thomas Aquinas Men's Golf Team finished in 9th place out of the 14 team field of Division I teams that included programs from St. John's, Yale, Columbia and Harvard. The Spartan's 3-day score of 853 (+13) was highlighted by a record breaking performance by junior Kai Rastetter. After carding a first round of 73 (+3), Rastetter told Coach Ferrara "I struggled out there." Rastetter then went on to break the course record and school record when he recorded a bogey-free 61. Starting on the 16th hole, Rastetter birdied 16,17 and 18. After a great par save on 1, Rastetter went on to birdie 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. After rattling off 8 straight pars, Rastetter knocked his approach shot to 10 feet on his final hole. After a few walks around the hole, Rastetter rolled in his 9th birdie of the day to cap off his record setting round.
In their first round of the season, the team came out a bit sluggish, posting a team score of 296 (+16) at the Red Course of Bethpage State Park. Juniors Chris Gentle and Kai Rastetter were the low Spartans, carding rounds of 71 and 73 respectively. Kevin Gately and Colby Lewis both managed to shoot rounds of 76 while senior Niklas Koerner struggled to a round of 80.
After 18 holes under their belts, the Spartans came out during round two and played a great day of golf. The team was led by Rastetter's 61 while Kevin Gately came back nicely, shooting a 1-under par 69. Gentle posted another solid round of golf, carding a 72 and senior Niklas Koerner rebounded from his first round to shoot 73. Senior Colby Lewis rounded out the team scoring with is round of 74. The Spartans team score of 275 (-5) left the team in 8th place behind the tournament leader Yale University.
In the final round the team played another solid round of golf, shooting 282 (+2) as a group. They were once again led by Rastetter who posted a 3-day score of 200 (-10) after a spectacular 66 (-4). Rastetter's school record 54-hole total gave him a second place finish behind medalist Matt Oshrine of Loyola University. Kevin Gately put together another great round of golf, firing a 72 for a 3-day score of 217 (76-69-72). Chris Gentle didn't figure in the team score, but posted a 3rd round 76 for a total of 219 (71-72-76) while Colby Lewis had his best round of the tournament after shooting 71. Lewis finished at 221 after rounds of 76-74-71. Koerner was able to finish the event at 226 after posting 80-73-73 and newcomer Michael Miranda shot a 3 day score of 224 after rounds of 74-73-77.
The team finished the "Doc Gimmler" in 9th place ahead of Alabama State U., IUPUI, Hofstra University, Central Connecticut and Manhattan College. The boys are back in action in two weeks at the Patriot Intercollegiate hosted by George Mason University at Laurel Hill Golf Club in Fairfax, VA.