MIDDLEBURY, Vt. — Playing under sunny skies on Ralph Myhre Golf Course, the Williams College men's golf team opened up its 2026-27 season at the Duke Nelson Invitational, hosted by Middlebury College, and finished the first round at the 6,530-yard, par-71 course in 13th place out of 20 teams with a 317 (+33).
Senior Alex Moller led the Ephs with a 6-over 77, while first-year Charles Nevin was one stroke behind his co-captain at 7-over. Not only did Moller turn in the low score for the Ephs, he also played the most consistent round with 13 pars to his credit as he ended the day tied for 32nd in the field of 104 players. The rookie Nevin availed himself in his collegiate debut, dropping 11 pars in his round as he tied for 44th.
But Williams head coach Josh Hillman knows his team can perform better.
"We got off to a rough start early on a difficult part of the course and never really got it going," Hillman said following the round. "Two of the guys had never seen the course before, so that made this tricky course that much harder. We are playing well, however, and I am confident we will bounce back tomorrow."
Both senior Owen Nielsen and sophomore Nick Smith — last year's NESCAC Golfer and Rookie of the Year — combined for six birdies (four and two, respectively) on the day but found trouble more regularly than they would like as both carded a 10-over 81, tying for 62nd.
The Ephs' only other birdie came on the 405-yard par-4 18th hole, courtesy of sophomore Owen Barber, who walked into the clubhouse with a 12-over 83. His classmate, Aydin Aly Ajani, played as an independent and shot an 85 (+14) with seven pars.
Wesleyan ended the day atop the leaderboard with a 12-over 296, two strokes ahead of Skidmore and three ahead of St. Lawrence and host Middlebury. But the individual leaders came from Salem State (Luke Grebinar) and Springfield College (Sean O'Neill) who both completed the 18 holes at even par.
The invitational will conclude on Sunday with the second and final round teeing off with a shotgun start at 9 a.m.
