The golf team continued its spring season, participating in the Columbia Spring Invitational on Monday. The Leopards finished sixth out of 12 teams at the 36-hole tournament in Springfield, Pennsylvania.
Freshman Travis Robertson led the way for the Leopards, shooting eight-over-par for a t-20 finish and earning Patriot League Honorable Mention Golfer of the Week.
“It’s really cool,” Robertson said. “I felt like I could have played better, but still being able to see that award come across my phone from my coach is a cool feeling.”
Senior Quint Dingledine shot a 150 that placed him at t-29, and sophomore Winston Kelenc-Blank placed t-35 while scoring 151. Rounding out the team were senior Sean Saw (152) and junior Harry Dessell (154), who placed t-43 and t-49, respectively.
“I think this tournament is kind of trying to sharpen up on the little things that are different about a tournament versus a practice,” Saw said. “Trying to focus on strategy and making sure all of the little mistakes from last week were ironed out.”
Freshmen Michael DiNapoli and Harrison Browne were the only athletes competing as individuals for the Leopards. DiNapoli shot 159 and Browne carded a 161, placing t-62 and t-65, respectively.
Saw noted that, as a senior, he was feeling more comfortable in a tournament environment and looking to help the “younger guys.”
“Really focusing on the prep, and that is physical as well as mental, and guiding them around courses that I’ve seen before, that they’ve never seen before,” Saw said. “Sharing my strategy, I think, puts them in the best position to kind of play their own games.”
Robertson added that the team had some positive takeaways from the tournament.
“I think it shows that if we can play half-decent golf on a course that’s not in great condition, it gives us a lot of hope for playing a course where the greens are rolling a little bit nicer,” Robertson said. “We could really be competitive and make a run at winning an event as a team.”
Coming up this Sunday and Monday, the Leopards will host their only home tournament of the year at the Northampton Country Club in the Abarta Coca-Cola Collegiate Invitational.
“I think the difference is just comfortability in general,” Saw said. “We play this course almost every single day. We do qualifying here, and it’s a short drive. All of the stuff that kind of comes with a home course advantage is mainly in the comfortability aspect of it.”
Disclaimer: Sports Editor Grace Sanborn ’25 is a member of the golf team. She did not contribute writing or reporting.