MIDDLEBURY — Host Middlebury College on Sunday won its third NESCAC championship in the past four years, as the Panthers held off a day-two charge from Williams on Ralph Myhre Golf Course to capture the 2014 title.
The NESCAC title is the fifth overall for the Panthers, who receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III tournament. The event will take place from May 13 to 16 at the Grandover Resort in Greensboro, N.C.
The Panthers led by 11 strokes after the first day’s 18 holes with a 299, and then shot a 326 on a cold, wet and windy day two to edge Williams by a stroke. The Ephs on Sunday added four strokes to their day-one total with a 315 to finish at 626.
Trinity on Sunday came in with a 319 for a two-day total of 629, good for third place. Amherst, the only team to improve its team score on day two, shot a 328 that day to finish at 660 for the 36-hole event.
Day one co-leader Fitz Bowen led Middlebury on the second day, shooting a 77 to finish with a two-day total of 149, good for medalist honors. Rob Donahoe was next for the Panthers with an 82 on the second day of competition, ending in a third-place tie with a 154. Charlie Garcia finished tied for sixth place with a 157 (75-82). Max Alley was 15th with a 165 (80-85), while John Louie placed 20th, coming in with a 171 (84-87).
Despite the conditions, Williams managed to have two players (Grant Raffel and Jake Goldenring) improve their day-one efforts. Cody Semmelrock was their top golfer overall, placing second with a two-day total of 153 (75-78). Trinity’s Nick Buenaventura tied Donahoe for third place with a 154 (76-78), while Jeff Durkin of Trinity was fifth overall with a 155 (78-77).