LIGONIER, PA – The 18th-ranked University of Rochester men's golf team sits in 16th place following 36 holes on day one of the Carnegie Mellon University Tartan Invitational on Monday at Laurel Valley Golf Club.
 
The 18-team tournament features 14 teams, including the Yellowjackets, ranked in the top 25 of the most recent Bushnell/Golfweek NCAA Division III Coaches' Poll, including seven members of the top 10, as well as two additional teams who received votes.
 
Through 36 holes, 3rd-ranked Emory leads the field at an even par on the par-72, 7,258-yard course, while 2nd-ranked Kenyon sits in second place at 11-over. 7th-ranked Sewanee rounds out the top three teams at 13-over heading into the second and final day of competition.
 
The Yellowjackets, as a team, shot 25-over over their first 18 holes, and then shaved off seven strokes over their next 18 holes to shoot 18-over on their second run-through the course to finish the day at 43-over-par, good for 16th in the 18-team field.
 
Anderson Palm was Rochester's top finisher on the day, finishing his 36 holes at six-over, tied for 32nd individually. Palm opened his day with a 78, six-over, in round one, notching a pair of birdies on the front nine and another on the back nine, and then shot an impressive even-par over his second 18 holes.
 
Palm was one of just 17 golfers to shoot an even par or better in round two, as the sophomore notched an eagle on the par-five, sixth hole, and then followed it up with a birdie on the par-four seventh hole.
 
Galen Fowles was Rochester's next-highest finisher, coming into the clubhouse at seven-over, tie for 39th overall, after leading the 'Jackets in round one with a 74, two over, before shooting five over in round two. Fowles turned in four birdies across his 36 holes, notching birdies on seven and 18 in round one, and then three and seven again in round two.
 
Next up for URochester, Tommy Wang finished tied for 67th at 13-over-par, with rounds of seven and six over. Starting on the 12th hole, Wang birdied the par-five 18th hole in his opening round, and added a pair of birdies over his next 18 holes, birdying six and 11 to wrap up his day on the course.
 
Henry Zhong was the Yellowjackets' final scoring golfer on the day, finishing at 17-over-par following a 10-over score in round one, and a seven-over-par round two, 78th on the individual leaderboard. Starting on the 10th hole, Zhong finished round one with a pair of birdies on the second and 15th holes, and then added another over his second 18 holes on the par-four seven, a hole which four of five 'Jackets birdied.
 
Arjun Aujla rounded out Rochester's lineup in Pennsylvania, carding a 10-over round one, and 11-over round two to finish the day at 21-over, tied for 82nd. Aujla had a team-high four birdies over his first 18 holes, birdying three, six, seven and 11, and then added another birdie on 13 over his final 18 holes of the day.
 
Individually, No.1 Huntingdon's Connor Fitch sits atop the 90-player leaderboard at five-under, one of just three competitors under par through 36 holes.
 
The Yellowjackets will wrap up the Tartan Invitational with the final round of play, beginning on Tuesday, Oct. 13 at 8:00 a.m. at Lauren Valley Golf Club in Ligonier, PA.