Consistency From Seniors, Flashes of Excellence From First-Years Highlight Men's Golf Opening Weekend

The College of Wooster men's golf team finished in the middle of the pack at the season-opening Gatorade Collegiate, hosted by the College at Zoar Village Golf Course in Lawrence, Ohio. The Fighting Scots would place sixth at 599.

Only nine strokes separated second- through seventh-place. Allegheny College easily led the 11-team field, firing even-par 576 over the last two days, taking the tournament by 15 shots. The Gators' Jimmy Lasher and Robby Pickett shared medalist honors with 4-under-par 140s. Denison University (591), led by a 19-stroke improvement from Saturday, charged up four spots on the leaderboard to finish as runner-up. The University of Mount Union (594), Baldwin Wallace University (596), and John Carroll University (598) rounded out the top-five teams.

Wooster shot a season-opening round of 298 on Saturday, and sat in a tie for fourth at the end of 18 holes. The Scots would card a 301 on Sunday, dropping two spots on the leaderboard.

Senior Marcus Carano led the way for the College. The Berea, Ohio native displayed consistency throughout the weekend with 1-over-par 73s in both rounds. On Saturday, Carano moved to even-par with a birdie on the par-4, 385-yard 16th hole before bogeying the par-4, 421-yard 18th. On Sunday, the Scots' No. 1 was one-under at the turn.

Senior Calvin Milligan was right behind Carano with a 6-over-par 150 for the 36-hole tournament. Milligan, who tied for 19th, fired 75s in both rounds. Highlighting Milligan's weekend was an even-par showing on the back nine on Saturday.

Two first-years impressed in their respective collegiate debuts, with scores of 151, good for a tie for 21st. Raghu Bir Choudhary, playing with the "B" unit, opened his collegiate career with a 1-under-par 71, the lowest score turned in by a Scot on Saturday. He had a late surge in the first round with birdies on No. 16 and No. 17. Andrew DeLaat improved by three strokes on Sunday to finish at 2-over-par for the round. He had shot a 77 in his collegiate debut.

First-year Charlie Holt had a strong start to his career as well, with a 1-over-par 73 on Saturday. The Meadville, Pa. native returned to even-par with a birdie on the par-4, 340-yard 17th, before giving a stroke back on the round's final hole. He would shoot a 79 on Sunday to finish at 152.

Sophomore Brenden Tully (77-82-159) rounded out the team-scoring lineup for the Scots.

Wooster returns to action next weekend (Sept. 13-14) at the Guy Kuhn Memorial Invitational, hosted by Allegheny at the Meadville Country Club.