Colgate

CENTER VALLEY, Pa. (3/15/10) - The Colgate University men’s golf  squad was selected to finish fifth in 2010, according to a poll of the Patriot League’s head coaches and sports information directors. The Raiders will host the Patriot League Championship on April 24-25 at Seven Oakes Golf Course in Hamilton, N.Y.

Defending Patriot League champion Bucknell was picked to repeat their title win again this season, earning 69 points along with nine first-place votes. Navy followed with 62 points and the remaining five first-place votes. Army came in third with 52 points followed by Lehigh (34), Colgate (32), Lafayette (28) and Holy Cross. (17).
 
The Raiders finished sixth at the 2009 Patriot League championships and return four of  their top six finishers from last season. Sophomore Ben Jessen (West Simsbury, Conn.) led Colgate at the championships last season, while senior captain David Ake (Topsfield, Mass.) finished tied for third among the Raiders individual finishers. Ake won the most recent Patriot League Golfer of the Month award during the fall season back in October.
 
Colgate also returns senior Nick Parry (Washington, D.C.), junior Neil Thompson (Sherborn, Mass.) and sophomores Chase Williams (Columbus, Ohio) and Josh Spellman (Woodcliff Lake, N.J.).  Four freshmen also join the line-up for the Raiders this season.
 
The Bison return three seniors from last year’s championship team including the top finisher and 2009 Player of the Year, Andrew Cohen. Navy returns sophomore Peter Reilly, who earned the Rookie of the Year award for the second-place Mids last season.
 
The Raiders won their own Colgate Invitational this fall while placing third at the ECAC Championships and fifth at Lehigh’s tournament. Colgate will open it’s spring season this week at the Dutch Desert Shootout in Chandler, Ariz.
 

2010 Patriot League Golf Poll

1. Bucknell, 69 points (9 first-place votes)
2. Navy, 62 points (5 first-place votes)
3. Army, 52 points
4. Lehigh, 34 points
5. Colgate, 32 points
6. Lafayette, 28 points
7. Holy Cross, 17 points