Sunday, April 30
Phoenix, Md.
7:30 AM
Lehigh University
at
Patriot League Championship
Lehigh Wins Patriot League Championship, Song Claims Individual Title
4/30/2023 7:48:00 PM | Men's Golf
PHOENIX, Md. – The Mountain Hawks weathered the storm. Literally.
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The Lehigh men's golf team battled through rainy, windy conditions in Friday's opening round, and navigated a nearly four-hour weather delay during Sunday's final round, as the Mountain Hawks captured their fourth Patriot League title, winning the Patriot League Championship at Hillendale Country Club.
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Lehigh shot a final round 296, the second-lowest round of the day, to finish the 54-hole tournament at 894 (307-291-296). The Mountain Hawks won their first Patriot League championship since 2013 and will play in an NCAA Regional May 15-17.
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Senior Daniel Song led the way for the Mountain Hawks, winning the individual title at one over par 217 (76-70-71). Song posted a three-stroke victory over Loyola's Michael Crowley to become Lehigh's third-ever medalist at the Patriot League Championship, joining head coach Henry D'Alberto '97, who won in 1996, and Bowen Osborn, who was victorious in 2001.
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Song was also named Patriot League Golfer of the Year and D'Alberto was voted Coach of the Year for the second time. Joining Song in earning first-team All-Patriot League honors was sophomore Aidan Oehrle, who finished in third place at six over par 222 (76-74-72).
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"Our experience helped us," D'Alberto said. "To my knowledge we were the only team that won a golf tournament prior to the Patriot League Championship, and we won three. The guys were ready. In the end our experience and our ability to handle the pressure ultimately was the deciding factor."
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Play Sunday began with an 8 a.m. shotgun start and was halted after less than an hour due to weather and poor course conditions. At 12:30 p.m. play resumed until completion.
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Song entered the final round with a one stroke lead and enjoyed a fast start and a strong finish on Sunday. He birdied two of his first three holes and was one over par through his first nine holes. Song heated up over his final six holes, making three birdies and two pars to complete a final round 71.
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"When Daniel gets into the heat of the battle he actually gets better," D'Alberto said. "His last six holes yesterday and today were really strong. He lives for those moments and it showed today. He was outstanding."
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Song was six under par over his final six holes in the second and third rounds. He birdied four of his final six on Saturday and was two under over his final six on Sunday.
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This is the second tournament victory for Song this season. He also won the Lehigh Invitational in late October on the Grace Course at Saucon Valley Country Club.
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Oehrle moved all the way up to third place on the strength of his final round 72, which included four birdies, all of which came during a six-hole stretch from eight through 13.
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Junior Edmund Broderick was Lehigh's No. 3 finisher, tying for 16th place at 231 (76-74-81).
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Senior David Hurly rebounded well after an opening round 86, shooting 73 and 76 in his final two rounds to tie for 26th place at 235. Hurly's final round included 14 pars and four bogeys.
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Senior Sam Barton tied for 33rd place at 239 (81-80-78). Barton carded a pair of birdies Sunday in his best round of the weekend.
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First-year Jake Roth finished at 240 (79-84-77) and tied for 41st place. Roth made one birdie in his final round.
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"This is the best team I've had from top to bottom and these six guys all played well throughout the entire year," D'Alberto said. "They were involved in all four of our wins. I wouldn't have expected anything different. They came through when we needed them to. Everyone contributed. It was great."
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Colgate, which held a one-stroke lead over Lehigh entering the final round, finished in second place at 900, six strokes behind the Mountain Hawks. Host Loyola finished third at 902.
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The team championship is Lehigh's fourth of the 2022-23 campaign. Lehigh also won Binghamton's Matthews Auto Intercollegiate and the Alabama A&M Golf Classic in the fall and Lafayette's ABARTA Collegiate Invitational earlier this month.
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"To my knowledge, every time Lehigh has won this tournament, they've won a tournament prior to the Patriot League Championship," D'Alberto said. "When you get it done multiple times, you know what it feels like being in the heat of battle. It gave us a huge leg up on the rest of the field."
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The Mountain Hawks will learn their NCAA Regional destination on Wednesday when selections are announced at 1 p.m. on the Golf Channel and shortly thereafter at NCAA.com. Regional play will be held May 15-17 at one of six locations.
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The Lehigh men's golf team battled through rainy, windy conditions in Friday's opening round, and navigated a nearly four-hour weather delay during Sunday's final round, as the Mountain Hawks captured their fourth Patriot League title, winning the Patriot League Championship at Hillendale Country Club.
Â
Lehigh shot a final round 296, the second-lowest round of the day, to finish the 54-hole tournament at 894 (307-291-296). The Mountain Hawks won their first Patriot League championship since 2013 and will play in an NCAA Regional May 15-17.
Â
Senior Daniel Song led the way for the Mountain Hawks, winning the individual title at one over par 217 (76-70-71). Song posted a three-stroke victory over Loyola's Michael Crowley to become Lehigh's third-ever medalist at the Patriot League Championship, joining head coach Henry D'Alberto '97, who won in 1996, and Bowen Osborn, who was victorious in 2001.
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Song was also named Patriot League Golfer of the Year and D'Alberto was voted Coach of the Year for the second time. Joining Song in earning first-team All-Patriot League honors was sophomore Aidan Oehrle, who finished in third place at six over par 222 (76-74-72).
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"Our experience helped us," D'Alberto said. "To my knowledge we were the only team that won a golf tournament prior to the Patriot League Championship, and we won three. The guys were ready. In the end our experience and our ability to handle the pressure ultimately was the deciding factor."
Â
Play Sunday began with an 8 a.m. shotgun start and was halted after less than an hour due to weather and poor course conditions. At 12:30 p.m. play resumed until completion.
Â
Song entered the final round with a one stroke lead and enjoyed a fast start and a strong finish on Sunday. He birdied two of his first three holes and was one over par through his first nine holes. Song heated up over his final six holes, making three birdies and two pars to complete a final round 71.
Â
"When Daniel gets into the heat of the battle he actually gets better," D'Alberto said. "His last six holes yesterday and today were really strong. He lives for those moments and it showed today. He was outstanding."
Â
Song was six under par over his final six holes in the second and third rounds. He birdied four of his final six on Saturday and was two under over his final six on Sunday.
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This is the second tournament victory for Song this season. He also won the Lehigh Invitational in late October on the Grace Course at Saucon Valley Country Club.
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Oehrle moved all the way up to third place on the strength of his final round 72, which included four birdies, all of which came during a six-hole stretch from eight through 13.
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Junior Edmund Broderick was Lehigh's No. 3 finisher, tying for 16th place at 231 (76-74-81).
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Senior David Hurly rebounded well after an opening round 86, shooting 73 and 76 in his final two rounds to tie for 26th place at 235. Hurly's final round included 14 pars and four bogeys.
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Senior Sam Barton tied for 33rd place at 239 (81-80-78). Barton carded a pair of birdies Sunday in his best round of the weekend.
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First-year Jake Roth finished at 240 (79-84-77) and tied for 41st place. Roth made one birdie in his final round.
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"This is the best team I've had from top to bottom and these six guys all played well throughout the entire year," D'Alberto said. "They were involved in all four of our wins. I wouldn't have expected anything different. They came through when we needed them to. Everyone contributed. It was great."
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Colgate, which held a one-stroke lead over Lehigh entering the final round, finished in second place at 900, six strokes behind the Mountain Hawks. Host Loyola finished third at 902.
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The team championship is Lehigh's fourth of the 2022-23 campaign. Lehigh also won Binghamton's Matthews Auto Intercollegiate and the Alabama A&M Golf Classic in the fall and Lafayette's ABARTA Collegiate Invitational earlier this month.
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"To my knowledge, every time Lehigh has won this tournament, they've won a tournament prior to the Patriot League Championship," D'Alberto said. "When you get it done multiple times, you know what it feels like being in the heat of battle. It gave us a huge leg up on the rest of the field."
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The Mountain Hawks will learn their NCAA Regional destination on Wednesday when selections are announced at 1 p.m. on the Golf Channel and shortly thereafter at NCAA.com. Regional play will be held May 15-17 at one of six locations.
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