Erie, Colo. / Colorado National Golf Club-Robert Morris University senior golfer C.G. Mercatoris (Brookville, Pa. / Brookville) finished his spectacular career with a 31st place finish at the NCAA Colorado Regional in the opening foray of the NCAA Championship event. Mercatoris carded a final round 73 to finish the 54-hole event at Colorado National Golf Club at one-over par with a 217 total.
In the final round - the first day not interrupted by rain or lightning - Mercatoris started on the tenth hole and scored par on the first five holes. He took a bogey six on the longest hole in NCAA Tournament history, the 696-yard 15th. After two more pars, he got back to even with a birdie, his only one of the day, on the 452-yard 18th hole.
He followed with eight straight pars before finishing off his round with a bogey on his final hole, a par-three that stretches 219 yards.
Mercatoris had the fifth-most pars in a field that included No. 1 Oklahoma State and 16 players ranked in the Golfstat Top-100. He managed 39 pars in 54 holes and played the par-three holes to one-over, third best in the field.
The senior will be remembered as perhaps the best golfer in Robert Morris history, earning more medalist and top-10 finishes than any player in team history. He also owns four of the top-five season scoring averages, the top career average and team records for 36-hole totals and 54-hole totals.
