LAKE PLACID, N.Y. — The Columbia men's golf team completed another successful title defense at the Columbia Autumn Invitational on Saturday and Sunday at Lake Placid Club's Links Course. The Lions won the 13-team tournament at 12-under-par 840, holding off Dartmouth (-11) by one stroke for the victory.
 
The Lions have now won the Columbia Autumn Invitational four years in a row. They entered this year's final round trailing Colgate by three shots but were 12 shots better than the Raiders on Sunday. Columbia posted a final-round even-par 284 and held off Dartmouth, which posted a final-round 5-under-par 279.
 
Leading the way to victory were first year Neil Kulkarni and senior George Rubelsky. Kulkarni had the best tournament of his young career, carding rounds of 68 and 69 on Saturday, followed by a final-round 68 on Sunday to finish the tournament at 8 under par. He birdied five of his last 11 holes without a bogey during Sunday's final round. Kulkarni was solo second in the 80-player field
 
Rubelsky posted rounds of 66 and 72 on Saturday to go with a final-round 69 on Sunday. Like Kulkarni, Rubelsky rallied late, birdieing the 618-yard, par-5 15th, par-4 16th, and par-4 17th. The senior was tied for fourth at 6 under par.
 
Senior Darren Pang (E) and first year Alejandro Formosa (+2) each finished inside the top 20.
 
Columbia wraps up its fall schedule next Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 6-7, at the Red Flash Invitational. The tournament takes place at Sunnehana Country Club in Johnstown, Pennsylvania.
 
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