Final Results
NEW HAVEN, Conn. –The St. Edward's men's golf team claimed third place in the Macdonald Cup with a combined total of 844. The Hilltoppers faired well as the only NCAA Division II team in a field full of Division I schools. St. Edward's (274-286-284=844) finished behind tournament host Yale (274-276-282=832) and first-place Illinois (269-270-268=807). Some notable schools that they defeated were Rhode Island, Hartford, Dartmouth, UCONN, Penn, Cornell and Brown.
ENRIQUE LIVAS (70-69-70=209) shot one under par to lead all Hilltoppers and finish 10th overall. Livas trailed teammate DILLON VAN ESSEN by one stroke entering the day.
VanEssen (65-73-74=212) and JOSE HERNANDEZ (69-76-67=212) tied for second among Hilltoppers and finished tied for 14th overall. VanEssen had the best opening round of 65 while Hernandez' final round of 67 was a team best.
DAVID ARISMENDY (70-73-73=216) finished fourth on the team and tied for 24th overall at six-over par. BRIAN SMITH (76-71-79=226) finished tied for 50th overall.
St. Edward's was next to last in the tournament for team pars with 153. That could be because they were too busy making birdies, as the team tallied 50 of them. They were second to only tournament-winner Illinois, who had 60.
"We had a solid finish to the tournament," said head coach Todd Ohlmeyer. "Any time you finish in the top three, you are doing something right."
Ohlmeyer pointed out that the two teams St. Edward's finished behind are very accomplished. "Illinois was last year's National runner-up, finishing behind Alabama. Yale has already won one team title this year."
The Hilltoppers will next play in the Territory Classic in Lawton, Okla. from October 14-15. Check the Hilltopper Athletic website for results.
