BETHPAGE, N.Y. — The Columbia men's golf team earned a fourth-place finish at The Doc Gimmler. The season-opening event took place Monday and Tuesday at Bethpage State Park Golf Course.
 
The field played 36 holes at the Red Course on Monday, followed by a challenging final 18 at the Black Course on Tuesday. The Lions led the team competition by four shots following Monday's play after rounds of 1-under-par 279 and 5-under 275 at Bethpage Red. They battled through the final round at the Black Course and ultimately took fourth in the 12-team field at 23-over-par for the tournament.

"We played 45 holes of extraordinary golf — unfortunately, the Black Course reared its ugly head and punished us," Director of Golf Rich Mueller said. "However, to start the season as we did on Day 1 is a great sign. We proved to ourselves that we can win tournaments. What's more, our first-years are dynamite!" 

First-year Grant Lester impressed in his collegiate debut. Teeing off on Monday at Bethpage Red, Lester began with 10 straight pars before proceeding to birdie the second, fourth and seventh holes. He also eagled the par-5 fifth and had just one bogey on the round for a 4-under 66. His second round was a 2-under 68 that consisted of four bogeys, two birdies and two eagles at the par-5 fifth and 16th. Lester became just the fifth player in program history to score a 134 or better on the opening 36 of a tournament, joining Brandon Jowers '15SEAS, DJ Francey '24CC, Nathan Han '24CC and current teammate Wyatt McGovern.
 
Lester finished the tournament tied for second, closing with a 6-over 78 on Tuesday at the Black Course for a tournament total of even-par 212. McGovern was one shot back in fourth, carding under-par rounds of 68 and 69 on Monday, followed by a 4-over 76 at the Black on Tuesday. George Rubelsky and first-year Salil Khanduja, making his collegiate debut, finished tied for 20th at 8-over.
 
Columbia finished one shot better than Harvard (+24), was two shots behind third-place North Dakota State (+21) and three back of host St. John's (+20). LIU won the battle on the final day with a winning total of 13-over 857.
 
The Lions compete again this Saturday-Sunday, September 21-22, at The Goat hosted by Navy. The 54-hole event will take place at Naval Academy Golf Club in Annapolis, Maryland.
 
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