ALLISON PARK, Pa. - The Bethany College men's golf team competed at the La Roche Invitational hosted by La Roche (Pa.) University at the Wildwood Golf Club.

The Bison had two teams compete in the 14-team field, including six members of the Presidents' Athletic Conference, with 73 golfers participating in the Invitational. The Bethany A team finished fifth overall with a four-player total of 332 (+44) while the Bethany B team finished 12th and carded a score of 360 (+72). Placing first in the Invitational was the University of Pittsburgh-Greensburg (Pa.) with 311 strokes (+23) followed by Penn State University-Behrend with a score of 323 (+35), and the host La Roche with a score of 327 (+39).

Leading the way for the Bison was junior Payton Hildebrand (Wellsburg, W.Va./Wheeling Central Catholic) who shot a 78 (+6) to finish tied for fifth among the field. He notched two birdies and eight pars on his way to a season-best round and guided Bethany A to a fifth-place showing.

Also competing for Bethany A was All-PAC junior Jude Smith (Weirton, W.Va./Weir) who fired an 81 (+9) on the day with one birdie and pars on half of Wildwood's holes.

Rounding out the Bethany A team score were freshmen Jacob Bursey (Winchester, Va./James Woods) and Brayden Roberts (Franklin, Ky./Franklin-Simpson). Bursey followed a strong debut with a solid round as he finished tied for 30th with a score of 86 (+14) which included two birdies. Roberts followed right behind by penciling an 87 (+15) with seven pars to finish tied for 33rd overall for his second straight strong outing. Freshman Ian Longo (Winchester, Va./James Woods) also shot an 89 (+17) with a birdie to tie for 44th overall for Bethany A but was not a part of the team's four-player score.

Heading up Bethany B were sophomores Nash Hays (Heath, Ohio) and Colby Vega (New Cumberland, W.Va./Oak Glenn) who each shot an 88 (+16) on the day. Hays finished with six pars and notched a birdie on the last hole of the front nine while Vega had seven pars and a team-best showing on the back nine finishing just six over.

Junior Samuel Phillips (Charleston, W.Va./Herbert Hoover) finished just behind with a score of 89 (+17) and birdied on the final hole for the second straight tournament. Graduate Troy Hixson (Grove City, Ohio/Bishop Ready) was the last Bison to score for Bethany B with a round of 95 (+23). Sophomore Cooper Poe (New Martinsville, W.Va./Magnolia) closed out the Green and White golfers with a score of 98 (+26) on the day. 

The Bison are back in action on Monday, September 29 as they travel to Grove City, Pennsylvania to compete at the Grove City Fall Invitational hosted by Grove City (Pa.) College at the Grove City Country Club.