SILVIS, Ill. – David Ravetto of Texas Wesleyan claimed the NAIA Arnold Palmer National Individual Champion Award for earning medalist honors at the NAIA Championships.
Ravetto opened the championship with 1-over 72 to sit three strokes back in ninth place. A second round 70 moved up to third place, two shots out of the lead.
Ravetto was two under at the turn during the third round and found himself in a battle for the lead with Victoria’s Lawren Rowe and Oklahoma City’s Matthew Cheung. Ravetto took the lead when he birdied hole No. 10, but fell back to par with three bogies down the stretch. Rowe and Cheung also struggled on the back nine and the trio entered the final round tied at even par.
Ravetto opened the final round with birdie but posted back-to-back bogeys at Nos. 3 and 4. Birdies at Nos. 6, 8, 10 and 15 allowed him to pull away while Cheung and Rowe struggled. Ravetto finished the day at 3-under and claimed the title by six strokes.
The win was Ravetto’s first of the season.