EAST HADDAM, CT (April 25, 2026) -- The Tufts University men's golf squad came into Saturday's second round of the 2026 New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) Championships with a two-stroke lead on Williams College, and finished Saturday's second round with the same two-shot edge on the Ephs after the Jumbos fired a very strong +4 as a squad to finish 18-over going into Sunday's final round at Fox Hopyard Golf Course.
The course, which is playing 6912 yards as a Par-71, saw its average score come down by nearly three strokes on Saturday from Friday's action, but the Jumbo were able to answer the charge from a strong Williams College team.
First-year
Jason Zawtocki, who just recently got into the Jumbos starting lineup, has put on a brilliant performance through 36 holes. After a 75 Friday, the newcomer for the Jumbos shot a two-under 69 to move into second place individually. Zawtocki had four birdies on the day, bogeying just two holes to move up into the tie for the runner-up spot.
Brendan Roy had another very strong day for the Jumbos as he repeated his one-over performance from Friday with another 72 Saturday. Roy had a more volatile day on the course, but he answered three bogies and a double par with two eagles and two birdies. Roy is tied with Zawtocki for second place.
Senior
Holden Kittelberger shot a very strong four-over 75 on Saturday to stay in the top five individually, going out in an even-par 36 before coming in with a 39.
JP Noone rebounded from Friday's 79 with a very strong 72 Saturday, as he sits in 11th place through the second round. Noone was one-under through his first nine holes, finishing two-over coming in.
Senior
Nick McCabe fired an eight-over 79 on Saturday, as he sits in 41st place going into Sunday's action.
Tufts bettered its shot total by 10 shots Saturday from Friday, firing a very strong 288 Saturday. Making it even more impressive is Friday's 298 was the lone score under 600, while Saturday's 288 as a team tied with Williams Saturday. Trinity College is 16 shots behind Tufts with a +34, while Hamilton College (+37) and Bowdoin College (+43) round out the top five.
Tufts, which is in search of its second NESCAC title in men's golf and second in the last three years, will look to complete the wire-to-wire finish Sunday with the third and final round of action at Fox Hopyard Golf Course.
--JUMBOS--
