The golf team traveled to Delaware this past weekend to participate in the season opening George Washington Invitational. Unfortunately, the Raiders finished 22nd overall in the field of 24 teams, shooting a combined 644 over the two rounds of play. The University of Pennsylvania finished first, with a score of 585 and three golfers swinging for top ten spots in the tournament.

Junior Ricky Hayes was a bright spot on the weekend, recording rounds of 72 and 78, which was good enough for six over par and 24th overall in the field of 120 golfers. His first round score of 72 was the 12th best of the day. Sophomore Keaton Cross also finished in the top 100, finishing 68th with a 14-over 158. Colgate’s other golfers in the tournament were senior captain Sam Gerston, sophomore Montek Mayal, and first-year Matt Salmon. The trio scored 170, 169, and 173, respectively.

The weather for the invitational was not ideal, including a gusty morning and afternoon on Sunday. Wind gusts of around 30 miles per hour almost universally raised scores for the second round of play and Colgate was no exception, shooting eight strokes worse on Sunday. Of the 24 teams that participated, only the University of Delaware and Cornell had a better second day, with some teams adding as many as 27 strokes to their scores.

Patriot League opponents Bucknell, Lafayette, Lehigh and Navy all competed in the Invitational as well. Navy finished the highest, at 13th, followed by Lehigh, Bucknell, Colgate and finally Lafayette.

Colgate was voted to finish fifth in field of seven Patriot League teams, ahead of Holy Cross and Lafayette in the preseason poll. Bucknell was selected to repeat as league champions, receiving eight of 14 first place votes. Army and Navy also each received first place votes.

The Raiders will be going to Annapolis to face off in the Navy Invitational in two weeks.