Sparkill, N.Y. - St. Thomas Aquinas College's Donte Groppuso became only the second individual golfer (Niklas Koerner - 2015) in program history to earn a spot in the NCAA Men's Golf National Championship Tournament, after an incredible showing at the NCAA Atlantic/East Super Regional Tournament last weekend.
Groppuso took a first place victory in the tournament shooting a -4 (212) over the three rounds, including an -3 (69) on both day one and day two and a +2 (74) in the final round. The triumph puts Donte in the record books for a second time, as he now sits in the same company as former Spartan Chris Gentle, who took home his own individual win back in 2016. (Team also qualified in the same season)
Looking back at 2022-2023 regular season action, the Kingston, N.Y. native opened the fall with four straight top-10 finishes, placing third (SUNY Farmingdale George Cangero Invitational), ninth (Southern New Hampshire Penmen Invitational), sixth (Columbia University Autumn Invitational) and sixth (Post University Invitational). Groppuso closed first half action with a 25th place finish in a very competitive Lenoir-Rhyne Invitational.
When spring play got underway in March 2023, Groppuso, along with many golfers, had to shake off the winter rust and get reacclimated to ever-changing weather and course conditions. Donte and his Spartan teammates made their way south to open the second half of their campaign, competing in a pair of North Carolina tournaments, the Wingate University Ralph Hargett Invitational and University of Mount Olive "The Trojan". Groppuso placed 54th and 20th respectively, but despite the leaderboard finishes, the junior linksman put in the work necessary improve his score by seven strokes over a one week period.
The adjustments to Donte's game continued as the season rolled on and they were noticeable, as he moved up the leaderboard with each event. At the Barry University Battle at the Shores, Groppuso finished 19th among a very strong field of northeast and southern schools, but once again lowered his score. Then, when STAC returned home to host their own tournament, the Spartan Shootout, Donte got within striking distance of the top ten for the first time since October 10, as he finished 11th and was only 10 strokes from the top spot.
A weather-shortened Columbia University Roar-EE invitational put a temporary wrench in Groppuso's climb back to the top, as he finished 30th in a field of Division I golfers. However, a 1-over par 73 showed that Donte could hang with the elites and that there were still plenty of great moments on the links to come. In the regular season finale, coincidentally held on the same course as the Super Regional (Iron Valley Golf Club), Groppuso played his way back into the top of the field, finishing second and setting himself up for his outstanding performance at the Atlantic/East Tournament.
In addition, the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) and PING recently named Groppuso to its All-East Region Team, with All-American accolades to be announced in the weeks to come.
Donte Groppuso and Head Coach Stephen Ferrara have made their way to Warren, Ohio and the Avalon Lakes Golf Club for the NCAA Division II National Championship, which tees off with first round action on Monday, May 22. Groppuso will open his quest for an individual national title at 10:15 a.m. EDT on hole number one. Following 54 holes of stroke play (May 22-24), an individual champion will be declared along with finishers 2-10 based on cumulative total score and any applicable tiebreakers.
You can follow Donte's journey over the next three days by viewing the NCAA Division II National Championship LIVE RESULTS.