The Iona College Golf team was in Rehoboth Beach, Del., for the Rehoboth Beach Invitational at Kings Creek Golf Club on Sept. 27.

The Gaels played their best golf of the year, placing third out of the thirteen teams in the tournament, with Maryland University being the top school.

Each player from Iona stepped up, knowing that they needed to play well after struggling in their first two tournaments.

Sophomore Dylan Newman continued his excellent play in the fall by shooting a 1-under-par, for a score of 70.

Newman tied for second out of the 72 players in the event. He was one of only seven players to shoot even or better.      

Sophomore Doug Hoppe was next for the Gaels by shooting a 4-over-par 75, placing him tied for 16th.

Sophomore Andrew Graham also played well, shooting a 5-over-par 76, placing him tied for 24th.

 Junior Andrew Shortall and senior Jordan Lesansky both tied for 35th by shooting a 7-over-par 78.

One player from Iona earned a great achievement as the month of September came to a close. Dylan Newman earned MAAC Golfer of the Month for the month of September. Newman has led the Gaels in all three of their tournaments thus far and is definitely a model of consistency.

His best round of the year was at the Mclaughlin tournament where he shot the low round of the day of 66.

This is the third time in Newman’s young career that he was awarded Golfer of the Month. Last year, Newman earned Golfer of the Month in the months of October and April.

On top of all of these awards, Newman also received the award for MAAC Rookie of the Year last season during the MAAC Championships.

The Iona golf team is beginning to put  all the pieces together after a rough start. The team seems to be hitting its stride at the right time as the season comes to a climax.

 Many of the young players have improved as well. The team’s young foundation looks strong for the future.   

 Last weekend the Gaels also competed against the University College of Dublin. 

Last season, Iona traveled to Dublin to compete against the University College of Dublin, in three exhibition affairs.   

This year UCD came to visit Iona to complete a home-at-home series. The two teams will compete at three select golf courses throughout New York.

 The first match was played at the prestigious Wing Footed Golf Course in Mamaroneck. The second was held at the Cherry Valley Club in Garden City. The final was played at the Sleepy Hollow Country Club in Scarborough.

This matchup is a good test for the Gaels, as they look to continue polishing their skills with the fall season coming to a close.

The golf team will finish up their fall season after their competition in the Connecticut Cup in Ellington, Conn., at the Ellington Ridge Country Club.

 The golf team will once again open up their season in the Spring as they compete in the MAAC championships, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., at Disney’s Magnolia Golf Course.