BRUNSWICK, Maine -- First-year Kyle Harsh tied for 19th place in a field of 88 competitors to pace the Bates men's golf team over the weekend at the Bowdoin Invitational, held at Brunswick Golf Club. 

Harsh (Weston, Mass.) opened the tournament with a 77 over the course of the first 18 holes on Saturday. Then he fired a one-under par 71 in his next 18 holes. On Sunday, Harsh wrapped up his weekend with a 74, finishing at six over par for the tournament. Harsh finished just three strokes back of a top-10 showing. 

Two other Bobcats also placed in the top 50. First-year Mac Ahern (Westport, Conn.) was consistent, finishing with rounds of 75, 76, and 75 on his way to a tie for 32nd place at 10 over par. Sophomore Ethan Hale (Lunenburg, Mass.) improved each day on his way to a tie for 50th place. He matched Harsh for the low round of the the tournament for the Bobcats, shooting a 71 on Sunday.

As a team, Bates struggled in the opening 18 holes, shooting 24 over par. They settled down after that, shooting identical 11-over-par rounds to move up three spots and finish in a tie for 12th place with Williams in a field of 16 teams. Bates finished just three strokes back of a tie for ninth. 

The Bobcats are back in action on Oct. 10 and 11 at the Skidmore Invitational, being held at Saratoga Spa State Park.