Pirates Drop Finals Match to UConn, 4-2-1

Tuesday, February 6

West Palm Beach, Fla. / Bear Lakes Country Club

All Day

Seton Hall University

Big East

Wenliang Xie tees off during a practice round in the fall of 2024.

2/6/2024 3:35:00 PM | Men's Golf

LIVE SCORING

WEST PALM BEACH, FLA. – Wenliang Xie (Zhaoqing, China) and Isaiah Williams (Flemington, N.J.) won their respective matches, but the Seton Hall men's golf team fell to Connecticut, 4-2-1, in the championship of the BIG EAST Match Play event on Tuesday at Bear Lakes Country Club.

Williams is the lone Pirate to win all three of his matches during the event.

FINAL
No. 5 Connecticut defeated No. 2 Seton Hall, 4-2-1

Isaiah Williams (Flemington, N.J.) defeated Eric Boulger, 1UP
Alex Heard defeated Joshua Lee (Lantana, Texas), 3&2
Jimmy Paradise defeated David Lally (Wicklow, Ireland), 2UP
Patrick Kahanek (San Antonio, Texas) tied Bradley Sawka
Ray Dennehy defeated Eli Shah (Newtown Square, Pa.), 4&2
Tommy Dallahan defeated George Fricker (Woodbridge, England), 2&1
Wenliang Xie (Zhaoqing, China) defeated Connor Goode, 4&2

The fifth-seeded Huskies were able to take the championship by topping the Pirates, 4-2-1, in the final on Tuesday. Williams went the distance with UConn's Eric Boulger, winning the 18^th hole to pull off a 1UP victory. Xie won for the second time in the event, downing UConn's top player, Connor Goode, in convincing fashion, 4&2.

SEMIFINAL
No. 2 Seton Hall defeated No. 3 Xavier, 5-1-1

Isaiah Williams defeated A.J. Adams, 2&1
Joshua Lee tied Zach Burton
David Lally defeated A.J. Wilhelm, 2UP
Patrick Kahanek defeated Jack Korotcoff, 1UP
Ray Filter defeated Eli Shah, 3&1
George Fricker defeated Justin Gabbard, 1UP
Wenliang Xie defeated Mason Witt, 3&2

Seton Hall won five of six matches against Xavier, but the contests were significantly closer. Kahanek trailed by one hole with two to play, but defeated Xavier's Jack Korotcoff in the final two holes to win, 1UP. Fricker also had a clutch finish. With the math tied after 17 holes, the junior won the final hole to also claim a 1UP victory. Williams collected his second win of the day, downing Xavier's A.J. Adams, 2&1. Lally also won for a second time on Monday, defeating A.J. Wilhelm, 2UP. Lastly, Xie came back on the back nine to soundly defeat Mason Witt, 3&2.

QUARTERFINAL
No. 2 Seton Hall Defeated No. 7 DePaul, 4-2-1

Isaiah Williams defeated Aarjav Patel, 4UP
Joshua Lee tied Billy Gneiser
David Lally defeated Alex Vekich, 4UP
Conor Glennon defeated Patrick Kahanek, 3&2
Eli Shah defeated Artemiy Yalovenko, 4&2
George Fricker defeated Noah Kolar, 3&2
Ryder Henares defeated Wenliang Xie, 1UP

Seton Hall got off to a strong start with a 4-2-1 victory over DePaul in the quarterfinals on Monday. Williams and Lally went the distance, but handily defeated their opponents 4UP. Shah trailed by two holes early, but bounced back to down DePaul's Artemiy Yalovenko, 4&2. Fricker also trailed through his first 11 holes, but won three in a row down the stretch and took down DePaul's Noah Kolar, 3&2, to provide the match clincher.

Match Play Details:
2024 BIG EAST MATCH PLAY
Host: Villanova University
Location: West Palm Beach, Fla.
Course: Bear Lakes Country Club
Course Vitals: Par-72, 7,074 yards
Dates: February 5-6, 2024

THE COURSE:
Bear Lakes is a golfer's dream, with two world-class Jack Nicklaus Signature courses. The Lakes Course – Parkland Style and the Links Course – Links style course, offering two unique playing experiences. Golf amenities also include a double-sided driving range, four practice greens, and a teaching facility. No matter your handicap, there is always a game available for you in our daily organized game run by their friendly and welcoming professional golf staff, and with an atmosphere that will make us your home away from home.

The Nicklaus-designed Links Course imitates a seaside Scottish links course, challenging golfers on all 18 holes. The Lakes Course offers tactfully placed bunkers, stunning lakes, and five sets of tees to accommodate golfers at any level of play. Venture into a golfer's dream with this combination of playability and arresting scenery

THE FIELD:
The field was limited to eight teams of the BIG EAST Conference. Here are the teams and their seedings…
1. Creighton
2. Seton Hall
3. Xavier
4. Butler
5. Connecticut
6. Villanova
7. DePaul
8. St. John's

UP NEXT:
Seton Hall will open tournament play this spring with the Hal Williams Collegiate, Feb. 12-13, at Magnolia Grove Golf Club in Mobile, Ala.