The Hamilton College Continentals tuned up for next weekend's NESCAC championship by finishing in fourth place out of nine teams at the 2019 Williams College NESCAC Men's Golf Spring Opener, which was held at Taconic Golf Club in Williamstown, Mass., on April 20 and 21.
Six Hamilton men's golfers competed and nine rounds in the 70s were recorded out of a possible 12. Milan Matneja '22 led the way as he tied for seventh place out of 52 golfers at 4-over 146. Matneja carded a 74 on Saturday and posted the Continentals' best round of the weekend with a 1-over 72 on Sunday. He entered the tournament with a team-best stroke average of 74.62 for 18 holes.
Jeremy Benjamin '19 was next for Hamilton in a tie for 16th place at 151. Benjamin's 74 tied for the Continentals' best score in the first round and he added a final-round 77. Jack Habeeb '22 tied for 20th place at 153 after rounds of 76 and 77.
Bobby Osborn '20, who was studying off campus in the fall and didn't play, is back in mid-season form after he made it around with scores of 76 and 78 and finished at 154. Osborn has shot in the 70s in all five competitive rounds this spring. Sam Vogel '22 contributed a 74 on Sunday and that turned out to be the second-best round of the day for Hamilton.
Vogel was even on the par threes and Matneja was 3-over on the par-four holes during the weekend. Osborn, Habeeb and Vogel were all 2-under on the par fives. Habeeb, Vogel and Matneja led the Continentals with five birdies each.
Hamilton's four-man team score was 300 both days and the Continentals finished at an even 600. Trinity College captured the team title at 572 and egded the hosts by a shot. Middlebury College ended up in third place at 585.
The 2019 NESCAC Men's Golf Championship is at Middlebury's Ralph Myhre Golf Course on Saturday and Sunday, April 27 and 28. Tee times are to be announced. The Panthers earned the right to host the event by finishing first in the NESCAC championship qualifier last September. The winner of the NESCAC championship collects an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III championship.
