From NYU Athletics
The New York University men's golf team completed day one of the Skidmore Invitational. The two-day, six-team event hosted by Skidmore College is taking place on Saturday and Sunday, October 7 and 8 at Saratoga National Golf Club in Saratoga Springs, NY.
The Violets sit in sixth at the end of day one after tallying a 311. Williams College leads the field with a one-under-par 287. Behind Williams are Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (295), Middlebury College (304), Manhattanville College (306) and host Skidmore (306).
NYU's Matt Shen leads the way for the Violet golfers. The sophomore finished day one with a 76, (4-over-par). Shen's performance has him in a tie for 10th. Just one stroke behind Shen, Violet teammate Patrick McNary authored a first round score of 77, which has the freshman in 14th place. NYU's duo of Jensen Liand Kelly Sun find themselves in a tie for 24th place, each having shot a 79 (+7). Rounding out the field for the Violets, freshman Pratheek Velamuri shot an 81 and sits in 30th.
"We just didn't have it today," said Head Coach Brad Johnson. "Golf is one of those games where it is your day or it isn't and today wasn't our day. Golf is a tough game in that way."
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS:
- Competing as an individual NYU captain Qizhi Wong ended the day tied for 16th. The junior carded a 77, (5-over-par). He leads all golfers competing as individuals.
- As a team, the Violets recorded 10 birdies and 46 pars through round one.
"Tomorrow, we will just go out there and play with nothing to lose," added Johnson. "All of our guys have enormous potential, we just haven't been able to put all that penitential and skill on display at the same time. I'm hopeful that tomorrow is the day we begin to do so."