Middlebury Hosts 2000 NESCAC Golf Championship

HARTFORD, Conn. – Middlebury seeks its second consecutive conference title as it hosts the 2000 NESCAC Golf Championship Saturday and Sunday (Sept. 30-Oct. 1).

The Panthers won their first conference golf title last year. Four different schools have captured the title in the past four years. Hamilton won its second title in 1998, Amherst won its eighth title in 11 years in 1997, and Williams captured the championship for the fourth time in 1996.

Middlebury has started strong this season, finishing third in the 23-team Duke Nelson Invitational it hosted and second in the 12-team Skidmore Fall Classic Golf Tournament. Sophomore David Greiner tied for second individually at Skidmore. Junior Damon Gacicia of the Panthers returns after earning individual medalist honors in last year’s NESCAC championship. Williams, which finished second in last year’s conference championship, placed fourth in the 21-team Williams Invitational this past weekend. Will Sicks, who tied for second individually in last year’s NESCAC championship, earned all-tournament honors for the Ephs. Amherst placed ninth in the Williams tournament led by senior Mark Still, who tied for seventh in last year’s conference tournament that saw the Jeffs finish third, two strokes behind champion Middlebury.

Four NESCAC teams competed in this year’s Bowdoin Invitational with Tufts finishing second. Bowdoin, Colby, and Bates all finished among the top nine. Elliot Barr of the Jumbos posted back-to-back rounds of 78 to finish one shot behind the individual medalist and teammate Brad Hawes placed sixth. Senior Scott Bixby was the top finisher for Colby, while sophomore Doug Aho led Bates. Bowdoin senior Kevin Kendall earned medalist honors at the Sid Farr Invitational hosted by Colby this past Sunday. Freshman Greg Dupuy was the top finisher for Colby, which finished second in the team standings.

Hamilton placed fifth in last year’s NESCAC championship, just eight strokes out of first place. Sophomore Tom Paolini was the top finisher for the Continentals in the Skidmore tournament earlier this month. Sophomore Adam Diamond and junior Zach Antonucci have been the top two finishers for Wesleyan this season, competing in the Duke Nelson and Williams tournaments. Brian DiMenna was the top finisher for Trinity, which placed 11th in the 20-team Williams Invitational.