SUNY Niagara places fourth at nationals for third time in four years

CHAUTAUQUA, NY — SUNY Niagara finished its season with a fourth-place outing among 11 teams at the NJCAA Division III Men's Golf Championship. The four-day event lasted Tuesday through Friday at the Chautauqua Golf Course. 

The Thunderwolves finished with rounds of 314-314-308-303 as a quintet for a four-day score of 1,239 strokes. SUNY Niagara also placed fourth in the team standings in 2022 and 2024. The score of 1,239 was the lowest for the Thunderwolves at nationals in school history.

Sandhills clinched a fifth consecutive national championship with a score of 16-under par 1,136. Sandhills' Vegas Melen won the individual championship with a score of 10-under 278.

Individual scores for SUNY Niagara included:

Eliel Rodriguez (T-12th) 78-76-75-76-305 ... All-American Honors

Ryan Kates (T-14th) 78-78-77-73-306 ... All-American Honors

Finn Graham (T-25th) 76-82-78-80-316

Anthony Gagliardi (31st) 82-78-82-77-319

Teddy Swiech (40th) 88-84-78-77-327