SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The Skidmore College men's golf team will begin its 2026-27 season this weekend for the Duke Nelson Invitational at Middlebury's Ralph Myhre Golf Club. The Thoroughbreds had their best finish in nine years when it placed fifth in the loaded event a year ago.
 
Skidmore was fourth in last spring's Liberty League Championship.
 
THE SCHEDULE AHEAD
Skidmore will play in four events in the fall. After Middlebury, the Thoroughbreds will go to the Williams Fall Invitational, followed by the RPI Invitational Oct. 5 at the Shaker Ridge Country Club. The semester ends with the Skidmore Invitational. Oct. 10-11 at the Saratoga State Park.
 
The schedule will pick up in the spring with several tournaments in preparation for the Liberty League Championship.
 
LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP
The 54-hole stroke play tournament will once again be held at the Shenendoah Golf Course at the Turning Stone Resort Casino April 30-May 2. NYU will serve as the host institution in 2027.
 
RETURNING
The Thoroughbreds return all nine members from the 2025-26 team. Of them, Rudraksha Banerjee and Patrick McLaughlin were the squad's All-Liberty League and All-Region honorees. Banerjee, along with Johnny Hwang, finished in a tie for fourth at the league championship tournament.
 
INCOMING
Skidmore has three new student-athletes on the roster for the 2026-27 season – all first-years. One of them, Cooper Guerriere, will make his collegiate debut this weekend.
 
PROGRAM HISTORY
Skidmore has one of the richest histories in Division III golf. The Thoroughbreds have won 10 Liberty League Championships (2003, 2005, 2007-10, 2012-13, 2015-16) and have appeared in 29 NCAA Tournaments, with 13 team top-10s, and second-place finish in 1996.
 
FROM HEAD COACH TOM OPPEDISANO
"I am very excited about our group this year. We have everyone returning and our first-year players showed up strong. It was the best pre-season I have ever had.  
 
"We had five players with a scoring average of 73 or better and seven with 75 or better.  And that's without our No. 1 player from last spring, Rudraksha Banerjee who is abroad this fall. The internal competition to make the travel team has been intense and a great problem to have as a coach.  
 
"Now it's time to find out…"