THE DU MEN’S golf team captured its own Rocky Mountain Men’s Intercollegiate tournament for the second consecutive year last Tuesday, with a final round 10-under par 278 for a 54-hole total of 855 (9-under par).

Denver was the only team in the field to finish the tournament under par and won by 11 strokes over UNC-Wilmington. All five Pioneer starting golfers finished among the top 15 individually.

This win followed a second place finish in their season opener at the Falcon-Antigua Invitational in Colorado Springs.

The Pioneers had four players shoot even par or better in the final round. Senior Tony Giarratano’s led the Pioneers a 5-under par 67. That score was the best round of the tournament and moved him from a tie for 50th entering the round to a tie for 12th.

Leading the scoring for Denver for the second straight tournament, however, was senior Shawn Wills, who was playing in his own home town of Broomfield. He closed the final round with a 1-under par 71 and finished with a 54-hole total of 213 (2-under), tied for third place.

Wills finished six strokes back of Derek Brown of UNC-Wilmington, who captured individual medallist honors with an 8-under par 208. Brown was five strokes in front of Nathan Fritz of UTEP, who was second at 213 (3-under).

Finishing second for Denver was junior Jimmy Cunningham (Walkersville, Md.), whose final round 4-under 68 was tied for the second-best round in the final 18 and moved him into sole possession of fifth place at 215 (1-under). Right behind him at 216 (even-par) was sophomore Barrett Jarosch (Edmonton, Alberta), who finished with a 2-over 74 today and finished tied for sixth. Freshman James Love (Calgary, Alberta) was Denver’s other top-10 individual, shooting a final round even-par 72 and finishing tied for eighth.

Playing as individuals for Denver and not counting toward the team total was senior Tommy Hart (Englewood), who closed with a 76 today and finished tied for 17th; sophomore Jason Coffin (Longmont), who shot an even-par 72 and finished tied for 19th; senior Matt Parkin (Denver), who finished tied for 41st at 225; and senior John Buffalo (Pueblo), who shot 238 and finished 74th.

The Pioneers finished in tie for second place, through one day of play, after shooting a combined 577 over the first two rounds.

“We just played fabulous today,”Head Coach Eric Hoos said. “The course wasn’t playing easy either but all of our guys just really stepped up today. All of our starters were right around par in some difficult conditions. We wanted to defend our home turf and the guys just came out like they really wanted to win this thing.”

The Pioneers, who started playing in the Wolf Pack Classic in Reno Nevada Monday conclude play today.