BETHLEHEM, Pa. – For the first time in five years, a Binghamton golfer finishes a golf tournament at the top of the leaderboard. On Sunday, Brandon Conner secured medalist honors at the Lehigh Invitational at Saucon Valley Country Club.
 
The junior finished the two-round event with a score of 67-74 = 141/3-under par, the only golfer in the 45-man field to finish the tournament under par. Conner recorded three birdies on Sunday to finish the tournament with seven. His outing on Sunday followed a stellar performance the day before, where he tied for the second-lowest round in program history relative to par at 67/5-under par.
 
“It was great to be there and witness it,” said Binghamton Head Golf Coach Bernie Herceg. “He [Brandon] played really well yesterday, and really solid today.”
 
With his final score of 3-under par, Conner tied for the sixth-lowest score through 36 holes relative to par in program history. He set the record in that category at the 2023 Matthews Auto Collegiate Golf Invitational, where his score of 67-70 = 137/7-under par helped him finish tied for second. That was the best finish of his career up until Sunday.
 
“It feels incredible,” said Conner. “Sleeping on a big lead is never easy, but I just tried to not think ahead too much and take it one shot at a time trying to play the best golf I could for the team.”
 
Conner is the first Bearcat to earn medalist honors since Ryan Rodriguez finished in first place at the 2019 Navy Invitational. This is the 31st time that a Binghamton golfer has received medalist honors since the Bearcats began competing in Division I in 2001.
 
“This is a huge relief to win, being so close last year at the home tournament,” said Conner. “It’s great to get it done and end the year right.”
 
Meanwhile, Ryan Millevoi finished in the top 20 for the second time in as many events. The senior tied for 16th at 78-76 = 154/10-over par. Sean Shen posted a score of 79-77 = 156/12-over par to finish tied for 23rd.
 
Overall, Binghamton finished its final tournament of the fall season fifth at 305-304 = 609/33-over par. Siena took first place as a team.
 
Binghamton will now prepare to compete in the spring portion of its season. The team’s schedule will be announced on a later date.