MANCHESTER, Vt. — The Williams College men's golf team concluded the fall portion of its 2026-27 schedule at the Ekwanok Sap Bucket Challenge on Tuesday, featuring four NESCAC teams for one round of stroke play. Six players contributed to each team's score, and the Ephs took second place with a 448 (+28), four strokes behind Trinity but five ahead of host Middlebury and 15 in front of Hamilton.
Sophomore Nick Smith continued his strong play of late by providing a 2-over 72 on the 6,569-yard, par-70 course at Ekwanok Country Club to lead the Williams contingency. Starting on the opening hole of the shotgun start, Smith made par on each of the first eight holes, and he made up for his double bogey on nine with birdies on 10 and 12. A pair of bogeys in the final six holes left him at 2-over par, all alone in second place in the 32-player field.
First-year Ian Kim was right on Smith's heels in a tie for third at 3-over par. Like Smith, Kim sank two birdies in his round (on the first and 12th holes) to go with 11 pars. Just one stroke behind him was sophomore Aydin Aly Ajani, also with two birdies (12 and 14) and 11 pars to his credit, tying for fifth.
Another player with 11 pars was senior Alex Moller, who added a birdie on 10 to his card to finish the day tied for 11th with a 75 (+5). The other two scores that contributed to the team total belonged to senior Owen Nielsen with a 6-over 76 (tied for 15th) and sophomore Charles Nevin with an 8-over 78 (tied for 20th).
"Today was a solid team effort," head coach Josh Hillman said following the event. "We had a few players really step up. Ian being a first-year played fantastic, Nick showed his experience and Aydin's score was very good playing on that golf course. All fall we've been getting better and better with more reps, and it is starting to come together. Overall, I am happy with how the team improved each week, and I expect to have another strong spring season."
Trinity's Charlie Mullin claimed medalist honors by five strokes thanks to 15 pars and three birdies.
The men will return to the links in the spring.
