Men's Golf | 9/7/2025 9:21:00 PM
DURHAM — North Carolina A&T sophomore Javier Morgado led the way for men's golf on Sunday, climbing 10 spots with a final-round even-par 72 at the Rod Myers Invitational and John H. Ryan Memorial at the par-72, 7,154-yard Duke Golf Course.
The Aggies finished 10th after following a second-round 14-over 302 with a final-round 21-over 309 to close the tournament at 46-over 910.
The Duke Blue Devils held onto first place in their tournament after shooting 20-under 844, nine strokes ahead of fellow Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) member UNC Wilmington (11-under 853). Indiana claimed third at 6-under 858, breaking its tie with Harvard from the previous round.
Morgado finished the tournament in 56th place, the second-best for the Aggies behind fellow sophomore Ignacio Zapata, who tied for 50th. Morgado shot 11-over (76-79-72--227), while Zapata shot a third-round 76, finishing two shots ahead of Morgado at 9-over (76-73-76--225).
Meanwhile, Morgado started his day on the par-5, 573-yard 10th hole and went on a rampage early. He birdied 10 and the par-5, 550-yard 15th to move to 2-under for the round. Unfortunately, he bogeyed 15 and 18 to finish the back nine with an even par 36.
As he made the turn to the front nine, Morgado bogeyed the par-4 456-yard first hole for the third straight day; however, after bogeying it on Sunday, he responded with a birdie on the par-4 430-yard second hole before making pars on the third and fourth.
Morgado had a bumpy ride on the front nine. In addition to his birdie on two, he also made a birdie on the 400-yard, par-4 sixth and the 493-yard par-5 ninth. Morgado offset those three birdies with three bogeys to score 36 over the course's first nine holes.
Adding to the mix of A&T sophomore talent was Mauricio Alvarado, who played as an individual, so his scores did not count toward the team's. He posted a 75 on Sunday and finished the tournament at 15-over (76-80-75 --231).
Zapata parred 13 holes on Sunday. He started on the back nine and shot 38 after posting two bogeys. His only birdie in the third round came on the par-4 second hole. Junior Drew Walker, who shot 72 on Friday, finished the tournament with scores of 77 on Saturday and 80 on Sunday, totaling 13-over 229.
Walker made three birdies on Sunday, but also had three double bogeys and five bogeys. All three birdies came on par 3s, including the 181-yard 12th, the 216-yard 15th, and the 160-yard fourth. junior Camilo Marin (75-73-87--235) and graduate Tyler Partee (77-82-81--240) also participated.
The Aggies return to action September 22-23 at the Thomas W. Dortch Jr HBCU Collegiate Golf Classic at Laurel Springs Golf Club in Suwanee, Georgia.
