Teeing off in the Keystone State for the second consecutive week, Siena Men's Golf shot +8, 292 to begin play act the Wildcat Invitational in Malvern, PA Monday afternoon.
The Saints posted their second-best team round of the 2018-19 season to land in eighth place in the crowded 20-team field halfway through the 36-hole tournament. The Green and Gold finished ahead of three conference foes in the process, with Iona (+13, 297) landing in 17
th and Monmouth & Saint Peter's (+14, 298) tying for a spot behind.
Competing at the Villanova-hosted event for the fourth straight year, Siena was led by freshman
Jared Nelson, who notched his team-leading fifth round of par-or better this season (E, 71) to conclude day one in a five-way split for 12th individually. Senior
Jack Downey landed just a stroke behind, shooting a collegiate 28-hole best +1, 72 to place in a 13-way knot for 17th.
Following behind were sophomores
Jack Brown (+3, 74), who sits in a 11-way stalemate for 47th place, and
Pudge Williams, who carded a season-best +4, 75 on the par-71, 6733-yard course at the White Manor Country Club. Rounding out the squad's five-man competition team was senior
Jack Bellardini, who went +9, 80 to split for 97th place.
Following the opening-round action, Siena concludes play at the Wildcat Invitational with a shutgun start on Tuesday at 9:00 AM.
