BARRE, Vt. – Junior
Aidan Davis shot an 82, including a pair of birdies on the back nine, as the Keene State College men's golf team competed at the Tony Mariano Invitational hosted by Norwich University on Wednesday at the Country Club of Barre.
Overall as a team, KSC had five birdies, but they could not overcome multiple double bogeys from their four scorers on holes 11 through 18 as they settled for a fourth-place finish as a team among the eight teams with a score of 332. The host Cadets won their home event with a 310, including Cooper Bertrand's impressive round of two-under, while New England College and Gordon College each shot a 319.
The Owls' performance on the front nine was very much with the leaders of the tournament, as their four scorers were just five strokes behind Norwich, one behind Gordon, and two ahead of NEC on those holes – but they were 15 strokes behind the next closest of that group (NEC) on the back nine, including a quadruple bogey on the 18th hole. Teams' starting holes were staggered, with some Owls finishing strong on the front nine after starting on the back. Freshman
Matthew Kowalik shot a team-best 38 on the front nine, including a birdie on No. 6. Classmate
Taylor Miller birdied the 472-yard par five fifth hole, while
Sean McCaffrey had a birdie on No. 9. Davis birdied both Par 5's (No. 10 and No. 15) on the back nine.
Norwich's win was keyed by a five-birdie round from Bertrand, who had two birdies and seven pars on the back nine while shooting a 34 after an even front. Colin Elliot added an eagle on No. 15 and a birdie on the following hole to help the Cadets pull away from New England College and Gordon. NEC's Graham Hassan was three strokes behind Bertrand, finishing with a one-over 72.
"As a team we struggled today, but we are trying as a team to make our worst days better," said KSC head coach Jeff Timmer. "We need to be about 12 shots better as a team on our worst days, then we can be on track to win some tournaments when we play well. The guys are working really hard this year, which is exciting and I know the hard work will have a great impact on our season going forward."
The Owls travel to Warwick, R.I. and the Valley Country Club for the Rhode Island College Invitational next Tuesday, September 16 at 10:00 a.m.
