LAKE BUENA VISTA, FL – Rider University men's golf sophomore Ben Ortwein (Easton, PA/Notre Dame) shot three-under 69 for the second-straight round and finished the tournament four under par (213) to win the McLeod Trophy as MAAC Individual Champion Sunday at Disney's Palm Golf Course. As a team, the Broncs shot the low round of the day at one-over 289 to finish the tournament at 868 (+4) to finish third, with Connor Bekefi (Toms River, NJ/Toms River North) joining Ortwein on the All-MAAC Team with an eighth-place finish (215, -1).

Ortwein becomes the Broncs' third McLeod Trophy Winner in the last four years, joining back-to-back champion Austin Devereux (2021, 2022). By virtue of the individual title, Ortwein has earned a berth to the NCAA Division I Men's Golf Regionals. Ortwein will learn his destination for the May 13-15 Regionals during the selection show on Golf Channel, May 1 at 2 p.m. The six regional sites are The University of Texas Golf Club (Austin, TX), University Club (Baton Rouge, LA), UNC Finley Golf Course (Chapel Hill, NC), The Farms Golf Club (Rancho Santa Fe, CA), Stanford Golf Course (Stanford, CA) and Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex (West Lafayette, IN).

Included in Ortwein's charge to the championship was an eagle on the Par 5, 532-yard 14^th hole and a birdie a hole later on the Par 4, 419-yard 15^th. He'd falter with a bogey on the 16^th, but finished his round strong with a pair of par's. In the clubhouse with a one-stroke deficit to Siena's Mike McConie, Ortwein watched as McConie matched his bogey on the 16^th to square them atop the leaderboard. McConie then three putted on the 18^th for another bogey, elevating Ortwein alone atop the leaderboard.  

Bekefi shot one-over 73 on Sunday to finish tied for eighth at 215 (-1) for the tournament. Pelle Ahlqvist (Habo, Joenkoeping, Sweden/Sandagymnasiet) shot even-par 72 Sunday, finishing tied for 20^th at 222 (+6), while Louis Giovacchini (Windermere, FL/Windermere) shot 75, including an eagle on the 14^th, to finish at 223 (+7, T-22^nd). Mike McCrone (Flemington, NJ/Hunterdon Central) rounded out the Broncs' line-up with a 78 to finish at 224 (+8, T-25^th).

QUOTES & NOTES
"It feels amazing. We have such a great group of guys. I just want to first say thank you to our coach, Jason Barry. And then, secondly, thank you to Joe (Lostumbo). Joe's our sixth man. He came out to support us. It was honestly just a great experience having them both here. They helped me win this one. It feels good to do this for the team." – Rider sophomore golfer Ben Ortwein

- Siena won the team title at 860 (-4), three strokes ahead of Fairfield (863, -1) and eight ahead of the Broncs (868, +4). Iona (873, +9), Mount St. Mary's (875, +11), Manhattan (889, +25), Canisius (894, +30), Niagara (895, +31) and Saint Peter's (926, +62) rounded out the team leaderboard.
- Ortwein finished a stroke ahead of a trio of player – Siena's McConie and Nolan Crowley and Ben Smith of Mount St. Mary's – each of whom shot 213 (-3) for the tournament. 
- Bekefi's All-MAAC honor is the second of his career after finishing fourth at the 2021 tournament. 
- Ortwein did his best work on the Par 5's, where he finished at seven under, tied for the best mark of the tournament. He also played the Par 3's at even par.
- As a team, the Broncs played the Par 5's at a tournament-best -23, while also carding the second-best mark (+25) on the Par 4's.  
- Ortwein's 15 birdies for the tournament tied for the most, while he was one of 11 players to card an eagle, joining Giovacchini and McCrone.
- The Broncs' 50 birdies were one behind Fairfield (51) for most in the tournament.
- Rider's three eagles tied Manhattan for most in the tournament. The Broncs and Jaspers were the only teams with more than one eagle.

UP NEXT
Ortwein moves on to play in the NCAA Division I Men's Golf Regionals, to be played May 13-15. He'll learn his tournament destination during the selection show on Golf Channel, May 1 at 2 p.m. The six regional sites are The University of Texas Golf Club (Austin, TX), University Club (Baton Rouge, LA), UNC Finley Golf Course (Chapel Hill, NC), The Farms Golf Club (Rancho Santa Fe, CA), Stanford Golf Course (Stanford, CA) and Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex (West Lafayette, IN).