SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The Skidmore College men's golf team finished fifth at its home Fall Invitational, shooting a 54-hole total of 883 (+19) at Saratoga Spa State Park Golf Course over the weekend.

• The Thoroughbreds opened the tournament with a 4-under-par 284 to take the first-round lead before posting scores of 303 and 296 over the final two rounds.
• Skidmore finished just one stroke behind fourth-place Clarkson (882) and one ahead of sixth-place Bowdoin (884).
• New York University won the tournament with an 11-under 853, followed by Middlebury (874), Amherst (879), Clarkson (882) and Skidmore.
• Jaden Cheng led Skidmore's primary lineup, tying for 16th individually at 2-over 218. Cheng opened with a 2-under 70 before recording rounds of 75 and 73.
• Tate Esler tied for 26th at 4-over 220 (70-76-74), while Johnny Hwang finished tied for 34th at 5-over 221 (73-75-73). Esler highlighted the team's hot opening round when he holed out from 145 yards for an eagle-2 on No. 5 on the way to a 2-under 70 on Saturday morning.
• Sam Frain tied for 49th with an 11-over 227 (74-77-76), and Derek Thomas finished tied for 59th at 13-over 229 (71-79-79).
• Competing for Skidmore's second lineup, Patrick McLaughlin matched Cheng for the team's best individual finish, tying for 16th with a 2-over 218. McLaughlin was consistent throughout the tournament, posting rounds of 73, 72 and 73.
• Chris Berry (78-78-73—229) and Cooper Guerriere (73-76-80—229) both tied for 58^th, each with rounds of 73 throughout the tournament.
• Campbell Jenkins (82-81-81—244) and Eric Carter (81-80-83—244) finished in a tie for 101^st.
• Jonathan Grode, competing as an individual, finished with a 251 (87-84-80).
• Hobart's Aman Dhiman and Amherst's Andre Zhang shared individual medalist honors at 5-under 211. Dhiman closed with a 5-under 67 to earn a share of the top spot.
• Skidmore placed in the top five in each of its four fall tournaments.

FROM HEAD COACH TOM OPPEDISANO
"This weekend marked the end of a strong fall season. We got out to an amazing start and were able to be in the final pairing today to be in the battle. Hats off to NYU for an incredible performance. The weather finally cooperated and the state park played a great host.

"I love this group of guys and appreciate all the support we had this weekend from parents to all the student athletes that came out for our Stable Game. Time to digest what we learned and get ready for a strong spring campaign."

UP NEXT

• The team will return to action in the spring with multiple events leading up to the Liberty League Championship April 30 – May 2 at Turning Stone.