HELLERTOWN, Pa. - The Lafayette Maroon entry into the 17th Annual Intercollegiate Golf Tournament entered the final round of the event in a three-way tie for second place. They were able to surpass Round 1 leader Colgate, but finished four shots behind a red-hot Robert Morris squad that posted the only under-par team round of the two days with a one-under 287.

"It was a great weekend," said head coach Jim Hutnick. "It is always a nice event that we have been able to put on here now for 17 years. It was a great turnout of teams. We probably had as many teams here as we ever had - 116 golfers. The course was packed and there was a lot of good golf being played."

The Leopards were among those playing good golf - receiving strong second-day efforts from freshman Ryan Tall (one-under 71) and a pair of one-over par rounds from junior Will Halamandaris and sophomore Brendan Cronin. Tall finished in a three-way tie for 6th place with a 71-73=144 even par effort. Bucknell sophomore Chris Tanabe was the medalist with a two round total of 141. 

"Being the low Patriot League team in a week like this really helps our confidence," said Tall. "It was kind of shame not to win our own tournament but props to Robert Morris they went out and earned it. We are looking to get better and looking forward to the rest of the season. I can't stress enough how excited the entire team is."

Halamandaris finished just outside the top 10 with a two-round total of 147, good for a T-12 placement. Sophomore Cole Berger was 27th at 150 and Cronin finished a stroke behind Berger at 151. The Lafayette White squad was paced by Aidan McDermott who shot a second round 77. 

"We just came up a little bit short," Hutnick told the Lafayette Sports Network. "A second place finish is nothing to be ashamed of. I am very proud of the kids. That is the highest finish we have had in our own tournament. Hopefully, next week we can go to Villanova and prove once again we are a team to be reckoned with."

The Leopards will participate in five more events in the month of April leading up to the Patriot League Tournament during the last weekend of the month. The two-day Wildcat Invitational hosted by Villanova at White Manor Country Club is next on the schedule teeing off on April 8-9.