After one day, Crimson trails URI by 23 at NEIGA Championship

The Harvard men’s golf team began a two-day tournament on Monday at Brewster, Mass. in preparation for the final event of its fall schedule, which will take place in Amherst next week.

The Crimson placed 11th among 45 teams through the first round of the NEIGA Championship. The event is hosted by Salem State College.

Harvard players shot a combined 318 and trail the University of Rhode Island by 23 shots after one day of action.

The Rams posted a score of 295 and stand as the only team to shoot under 300.

Captain D. J. Hynes led the Crimson with a score of 75, and finished the first round tied for 13th overall in the individual rankings.

After shooting one-under-par through the first nine holes, Hynes stood tied for second before faltering on the back nine by shooting a four-over-par 40.

Jason Parajeckas of the University of Connecticut shot a five-under-par on the back nine to lead all players with a three-under-par finish.

Harvard freshmen Michael Shore and John Christensen both played one shot better on the back nine than the front nine, and finished with scores of 77 and 81, respectively.

Junior Tom Hegge and senior James Cleary struggled in the first round, falling well behind the leaders.

Hegge was once again victimized by a slow start, shooting a 46 on the front nine before settling down and clubbing a 39 to finish his round.

Cleary, playing in his first tournament since the beginning of September, trails his teammates with a score of 86.

The Championships wrap up today.

Next week, the Crimson will wrap up the fall season with the October 23-24 Toski Invitational in Amherst, Mass.

The golf season will recommence in April with the Yale Spring Opener in New Haven.

—Tony D. Qian