READING, Pa. – Men's golf needed at least 2.5 points during today' second and final round of the 2024 Yocum Cup against Alvernia and did just that and more. The Lions took five of the six singles matches to win the Yocum Cup for the second straight season seven to two over Alvernia.

Before the second round singles matches got underway, Albright hall of famer Raymond Mest (Hall of Fame class of 2012) spoke to the Lions. Mest coached the Albright men's golf team for 36 years and was the head coach for 24 of them. Mest's message to the team gave the Lions all they needed to hear to go out and win the Yocum Cup. 

Coming into today's six singles matches, the Lions needed just 2.5 points to retain the trophy. Last night after the completion of the fourball matches, Albright was confident in their abilities to bring the trophy home but knew there was work left to be done. In the end, Albright won the Yocum Cup giving the Lions back to back Yocum Cup victories for the first time since the 2013 and 2014 seasons.

The Lions coaching staff of head coach Eric Lamm and assistant coach Hank Kline could not have imagined a better two days. "We are so happy to retain the trophy. We could not have asked for better weather over the last two days given this time of year in the northeast. The team responded excellently to the favorable conditions and was relentless in their efforts to secure back to back Yocum Cup wins. Today's win was the perfect way to cap off a fantastic fall season for the Lions."

The coaching staff went on to commend the play from Alvernia, "I want to commend the Alvernia Golden Wolves for their exceptional play throughout the Yocum Cup. Jon King and Tom O'Connell always have their teams ready to play and the past two days were no exception. We bring the best out in each other and I can not wait for more battles between us in the future."  

Charles Bailey was dominant today in his singles match winning handily. Bailey won the first two holes of the match to go quickly 2UP. When the front nine was all said and done, Bailey was well on his way to earning his team a point going 5UP with nine holes to play. Bailey stretched his lead to 7UP by the 11^th hole running away with the match in the end winning 6&5.

Sam Elsen played a superb front nine leaving little doubt who the better player was in his singles match. Elsen won holes six, seven and eight giving himself a 5UP lead after nine holes. Matt Gagliardi from Alvernia looked to make things interesting on the back nine but Elsen had his best game working to win the match 5&4 putting the Lions on the cusp of victory.

Oliver Liljeblad was down early in his match but caught fire during the middle portion of his round. The sophomore was dominant over holes 6-13 increasing his lead to 5UP in that span. O. Liljeblad was able to win his match comfortably in the end 4&3. O. Lileblad's singles match win gave the Lions their fifth team point resulting in the Lions winning the 2024 Yocum Cup.

Ben Egin began to find his game during the middle portion of his match. After being one down through three holes, Egin battled his way back to go 2UP by the end of the front nine. On the back nine, Egin maintained his lead throughout eventually securing the victory on the second to last hole by way of making a par on the 17^th hole to win the match 3&1.

Evan Twyman was locked in a tight match throughout his round this afternoon. Twyman went 2UP early but Alvernia's Jakob Chapman evened the match by the 7^th hole. After being a hole down after the 8^th hole, Tywman won holes 10 and 11 to go back up one. Twyman's match came down to the final hole as Tywman birdied the par five 18^th hole to win his match 1UP.

Jonatan Liljeblad found himself up early in his singles match. J. Liljeblad was 1UP through four holes after earning a par on the par three third hole. Alvernia's Jackson Hoovier found his stride late on the back nine winning holes 14 and 15 to stretch his lead and ultimately win the match 4&2.
 
Day Two Single Match Results:

Match #1: Oliver Liljeblad (ALB) def Kenton Lightburn (ALV) 4&3
Match #2: Charles Bailey (ALB) def Matt Davies (ALV) 6&5
Match #3: Sam Elsen (ALB) def Matt Gagliardi (ALV) 5&4
Match #4: Evan Twyman (ALB) def Jakob Chapman (ALV) 1UP
Match #5: Ben Egin (ALB) def Shawn Williams (ALV) 3&1
Match #6: Jackson Hoovier (ALV) def Jonatan Liljeblad (ALB) 4&2
 
Day One Fourball Match Results:

Match #1: Sam Elsen & Evan Twyman (ALB) vs Matt Davies & Kenton Lightburn (ALV)

• ALB wins match 2&1

Match #2: Jakob Chapman & Shawn Williams (ALV) vs Charles Bailey & Oliver Liljeblad (ALB)

• ALV wins match 2UP

Match #3: Ben Egin & Jonatan Liljeblad (ALB) vs Matt Gagliardi & Jackson Hoovler (ALV)

• ALB wins match 3&2

Up Next:
The Yocum Cup concludes the men's golf fall season. The Lions will head into the winter months beginning preparation for the spring championship season.