Reading, Pa (October 25, 2023) - Albright University recorded wins in all three four ball matches to take a 3-0 lead over Alvernia University after day one of the annual Yocum Cup Match Play Wednesday afternoon at LedgeRock Golf Club. 

The Lions recorded two match clinching birdies on the par five 18th to secure wins in two of the three four ball matches against the Golden Wolves. 

In the first match of the annual match play event, Alvernia's Andrew Bauer and Jakob Chapman took on Albright's Chris DiRita and Ben Egin. The pairing of DiRita and Egin combined to secure the one up victory over Alvernia. The pairings halved the first five holes of the day before a birdie by Alvernia saw the Lions go up one after six holes. The teams then continued to halve the final three holes out with both pairings carding a birdie four on the par five eighth as the pairing of DiRita and Egin took a one up lead into the turn. Chapman and Bauer evened the match up after a birdie on the 11th hole but the Lions responded immediately with a birdie of their own on the 12th to regain the one up lead. The Lions then extended the lead to two up after a costly bogey by the Golden Wolves but gave it right back after a bogey of their own on the par three 14th. A bogey on the par four 16th and a par by the Alvernia pairing evened the match through 16 holes but a costly bogey on the 17th by Bauer/Chapman saw DiRita and Egin regain a one up lead heading into the 18th. The Golden Wolves were unable to birdie the par five 18th to square the match as DiRita and Egin secured the one up victory in the first match of the day and put the Lions up 1-0 overall in the Cup. 

The second match of the day consisted of Jack Lynam and Matthew Gagliardi from Alvernia and Sam Elsen and Jonatan Lijeblad with the Albright pairing taking home the one up victory after a birdie on the par five 18th. An early bogey from the Golden Wolves saw the Lions take a one up lead after the first hole but a bounce back birdie two on the second saw Lynam/Gagliardi square the match. Lyman/Gagliardi grabbed the lead after a Elsen/Lijeblad bogey on the par three fourth saw the Golden Wolves grab their first lead of the match. The teams would halve the next two holes before back to back birdies from Elsen and Lijblad put the Lions up two but a bounce back birdie from the Golden Wolves saw the Lions take a one up lead into the turn. The Golden Wolves carded a birdie two on the tenth hole to square the match and then took a one up lead after a birdie on the par five 13th, their third birdie in the last four holes. The pairings would halve the next three holes as Lynam/Gagliardi took a one up lead into the final two holes. The Lions then carded a birdie three on the 17th hole and topped that off with a birdie four on the challenging par five 18th to secure the one up victory and give the Lions a 2-0 match lead. 

Alvernia's Jackson Hoovler and Shawn Williams took on Albright's Chuck Bailey and Evan Twyman in the third match of the day with Bailey and Twyman taking the match one up, on the 18th hole. Hoovler and Williams got off to an early three up lead after four holes. The pair recorded birdies on one and three and a Bailey/Twyman bogey on two saw the Golden Wolves go up three holes. Hoovler and Williams then tallied two bogeys in their next three holes and a Bailey and Twyman birdie on the par five eighth saw Albright cut the deficit to one after the first nine holes. The pairs halved holes ten and 11 before Bailey/Twyman tallied a birdie on the par four 12th to even the match. The pairs would then halve the next five holes before a clutch birdie on the tough par five 18th by Bailey/Twyman saw the Albright pairing take the match, one up, on the final hole of the day and securing the 3-0 sweep of four ball matches. 

The Golden Wolves are back in action tomorrow when they travel to Berkshire Country Club for Day two of the Yocum Cup at 12:30. Day two is a singles match play format. 

FourBall Results: 
Match 1: Andrew Bauer/Jakob Chapman (ALV) vs. Chris DiRita/Ben Egin (ALB) - ALB - 1 up
Match 2: Matthew Gagliardi/Jack Lynam (ALV) vs. Sam Elsen/Jonatan Liljeblad (ALB) - ALB - 1 up
Match 3: Jackson Hoovler/Shawn Williams (ALV) vs. Chuck Bailey/Evan Twyman (ALB) - ALB - 1 up