Tom Yu holds the 36-hole lead at 9-under par.
Photo by: Columbia University Athletics / Stockton Photo, Inc.
Yu, Lions Lead the Columbia Autumn Invitational
10/3/2026 7:26:00 PM | Men's Golf
Columbia looks to make it five straight at their fall event in Lake Placid
LAKE PLACID, N.Y. — Backed by an opening-round 5-under-par 66 from first-year Tom Yu and a second-round 66 from sophomore Neil Kulkarni, the Columbia men's golf team holds the 36-hole lead at the Columbia Autumn Invitational. The first two rounds of the 54-hole event were contested on Saturday at Lake Placid Club's Links Course.
Saturday's second round was suspended due to darkness. Teams and players who were unable to finish Round 2 will complete it Sunday morning, followed by the start of the final round.
The Lions (-11) are the four-time defending champions of the event and lead the field by five shots over second-place Colgate (-6). After a team round of 1-over-par 285 to start off the day, Columbia sat in fifth as the second round began. The Lions then put together the best team round of the day, posting a 12-under-par 272 behind Kulkarni's 66, a 67 from Yu, a 68 from Alejandro Formosa and an even-par 71 from first-year Spencer Carter. It was seven shots better than any round any of the other 12 teams posted on the day.
Yu's opening-round 66 included four birdies, one bogey and an eagle at the 571-yard, par-5 13th. He added five more birdies and a bogey for a second-round 67 and leads the 87-player field at 9 under. Cornell's Shep Davis and Dartmouth's Tyler Brand are three shots behind Yu in a two-way tie for second.
Salil Khanduja, a junior who sat out most of his first two seasons dealing with injuries, played his first collegiate rounds in over two years and came out with a 3-under 68. At one point, he strung together four consecutive birdies on the back nine, part of a stretch that saw him play six holes in 5-under par. Khanduja and three other Lions are competing this weekend as individuals.
The second round is where the Lions made their charge. Kulkarni started at the first and was 4-under on the round through six. He bogeyed the 451-yard, par-4 seventh but bounced back with birdies at the par-4 eighth and par-3 ninth to make the turn in 5-under 30. Two birdies and two bogeys on the back nine finished off his stellar round of 66, a new collegiate low for the sophomore from Ashburn, Virginia. Kulkarni is tied for fifth at 2 under.
Formosa (+1), Carter (+1) and Charles Lange (+2) are all in the top 20.
Sunday's final round begins with a shotgun start at 8:45 a.m. Fans can follow the action on the College Golf Scoreboard powered by Clippd.
FOLLOW THE LIONS:
For the latest on Columbia men's golf, follow @CULionsMGolf on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and on the web at GoColumbiaLions.com.
Saturday's second round was suspended due to darkness. Teams and players who were unable to finish Round 2 will complete it Sunday morning, followed by the start of the final round.
The Lions (-11) are the four-time defending champions of the event and lead the field by five shots over second-place Colgate (-6). After a team round of 1-over-par 285 to start off the day, Columbia sat in fifth as the second round began. The Lions then put together the best team round of the day, posting a 12-under-par 272 behind Kulkarni's 66, a 67 from Yu, a 68 from Alejandro Formosa and an even-par 71 from first-year Spencer Carter. It was seven shots better than any round any of the other 12 teams posted on the day.
Yu's opening-round 66 included four birdies, one bogey and an eagle at the 571-yard, par-5 13th. He added five more birdies and a bogey for a second-round 67 and leads the 87-player field at 9 under. Cornell's Shep Davis and Dartmouth's Tyler Brand are three shots behind Yu in a two-way tie for second.
Salil Khanduja, a junior who sat out most of his first two seasons dealing with injuries, played his first collegiate rounds in over two years and came out with a 3-under 68. At one point, he strung together four consecutive birdies on the back nine, part of a stretch that saw him play six holes in 5-under par. Khanduja and three other Lions are competing this weekend as individuals.
The second round is where the Lions made their charge. Kulkarni started at the first and was 4-under on the round through six. He bogeyed the 451-yard, par-4 seventh but bounced back with birdies at the par-4 eighth and par-3 ninth to make the turn in 5-under 30. Two birdies and two bogeys on the back nine finished off his stellar round of 66, a new collegiate low for the sophomore from Ashburn, Virginia. Kulkarni is tied for fifth at 2 under.
Formosa (+1), Carter (+1) and Charles Lange (+2) are all in the top 20.
Sunday's final round begins with a shotgun start at 8:45 a.m. Fans can follow the action on the College Golf Scoreboard powered by Clippd.
FOLLOW THE LIONS:
For the latest on Columbia men's golf, follow @CULionsMGolf on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and on the web at GoColumbiaLions.com.
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
Thursday, September 11
Monday, June 05
Sunday, September 12
Sunday, September 12
