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Clarkson overtakes Saints for final Liberty League men's golf spot

Posted 9/30/13

The University of Rochester backed up an opening round team score of two-over par 290 with a three-over 291 on Sunday and cruised to a 12-stroke victory over Rensselaer in the 2013 Liberty League …

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Clarkson overtakes Saints for final Liberty League men's golf spot

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The University of Rochester backed up an opening round team score of two-over par 290 with a three-over 291 on Sunday and cruised to a 12-stroke victory over Rensselaer in the 2013 Liberty League Championship Qualifying Tournament at St. Lawrence University's 6689-yard par-72 Oliver D. Appleton Golf Course.

Led by individual medalist Nick Palladino, who shot rounds of 66 and 68 for a 10-under 134 total over the two days of competition, Rochester finished with a best four-of-five stroke total of 581 to earn the right to hold the Liberty League match play championship tournament in the spring, with the winner of that advancing to the NCAA tournament with the league's automatic berth. RPI, which finished with a 593 total will be the second seed while Skidmore, which shot back-to-back rounds of 299 for a 598 total is the third seed. Clarkson, which trailed St. Lawrence by three strokes after the first round Saturday, shot a team score of 301 for a 607 finish to overtake the Saints and nail down the fourth and final spot in the match play finals.

SLU finished with a 618 total with Hobart sixth at 620 and New York University seventh at 625.

The number one players from Rochester, Clarkson, SLU, RPI and Skidmore's number two player earned first-team All Liberty League honors based on their finish in the tournament. Four of the five broke par for the tournament, led by Palladino's 134. Tyler Cline of Clarkson led the Golden Knight charge on Sunday with a 66 and finished at 139, second overall, while SLU's Jack Whelan backed up a three-under 69 on Saturday with a one-under 71 Sunday to finish third. Brandon Mader of RPI shot 69-72-141 and Skidmore's Tim Manwaring shot 75-69 for an even-par total of 144.

Skidmore's Mackenzie Denver shot 72-73-145 to lead the second team all league performers with Rochester's William Mallia, Matt VanNiekerk and Jona Scott, Hobart's Dillon Sass and RPI's James Jackson and Aaron Schlauger also making the second-team with a four-way tie for the final spot, all at 150. Player and Rookie of the Year will be determined by a coaches' vote in the spring.

Palladino took a big step toward that Player of the Year honor as he continued to post impressive scores on the SLU course. He was medalist in the SLU Invitational to start the year with rounds of 68 and 69 for a 137 total, seven under par, and played even better in the qualifer with his 10-under total. Mallia, VanNiekerk and Scott all finished within a stroke of each other, giving the Yellowjackets all four scorers in the top ten.

RPI backed a solid 293 start with a 300 Sunday, highlighted by Mader's even-par 72 and a 75 from Jackson which included a hole in one on the 212 yard seventh hole. All five RPI golfers broke 80 in both rounds.

Clarkson's Cline had the low round on Sunday with a 66 for a 139 total while Scott Henning shot 77 and Rob Wood and Evan Cody matched 79s for a 301 total. Whelan's 71 was the only sub-80 round for the Saints on Sunday as Clarkson came from behind to nab the fourth spot. Brady Garrett shot 80 for the second best Saint score while Jake Danforth;s 81 and a 83 from Jack Reardon made up SLU's 315 total.