KEENE, N.H. – The Norwich University men’s golf team strung together its best performance of the season at the Keene State Invitational, as Cooper Bertrand (Caledon, Ont.) took the individual title in a tiebreaker to spearhead the Cadets to a second-place finish out of nine teams at the Keene Country Club on Friday afternoon.

Norwich finished with a +19 score, landing just behind team champion New England College but also edging past Gordon College, who trailed the Cadets by just two strokes.  Emmanuel College and Western Connecticut State University tied for fourth, while Keene State College “A” finished just a stroke behind to check in at sixth.  Vermont State University Castleton, Keene State College “B”, and Elms College rounded out the field.

Bertrand and NEC’s Graham Hassan both finished two strokes under par 70, forcing a tiebreaking playoff round to determine the individual champion.  Bertrand proved victorious, making an eagle on the first playoff hole to top Hassan.

Harrison Giambattista (Danielson, Conn.) concluded his afternoon just a few strokes behind, logging a +2 to come in a tie for fifth with NEC’s Ryan Waring.  Sandwiched in between were Gordon’s Mario Mateo, who finished exactly on par, and NEC’s Timothy Carlson (+1).

Jordan Dustin (Concord, N.H.), Thomas Riddick (Clayton, N.C.), and Clark Kerner (Kansas City, Kan.) rounded out the Cadet effort, as Dustin and Riddick checked in for ties in 21st and 24th, respectively.  Kerner topped competitors from four other institutions to finish in 36th.

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS:

The Cadets will return to the course on Sunday, Oct. 6, traveling to the Country Club of New Hampshire for match play against New England College at 12:00 p.m.  Norwich then closes the regular season at the Emmanuel College Invitational on Wednesday, Oct. 9, ahead of the following week’s two-day Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Championships.