RUTLAND, Vt. – The University of Southern Maine Huskies' men's golf team recorded the lowest single round in program history on Saturday as the team shot a 277 (-3) in the first round of the Castleton Invitational on Saturday at the 6134-yard, par-70 Rutland Country Club. Freshman SJ Welch (Newport, Maine/Nokomis Regional) and junior Alex Grant (St. Albans, Maine/Nokomis Regional) ended the first round tied for second after each player shot a 67 (-3). Welch recorded seven birdies, while Grant had four.
 
The Huskies lead Clarkson University by seven strokes heading into tomorrow's round. Norwich University is in third with a score of 307 (+27). Clarkson's Luke Weisiger leads the field with a 66 (-4) and tied with Welch for the most birdies in the round with seven.
 
Junior Jaden Poirier (White River Junction, Vt./Hartford) shot par-70 and currently sits in fifth place. His five bridies ranked second on the team behind Welch. Junior Will Farschon (Brunswick, Maine) is tied for seventh with a 73 (+3) and had four birdies. Senior Quinn Dillon (Gorham, Maine) shot an 82 (+12) and is tied for 30th.
 
The previous record of 282 (-2) came on the first day of the 2024 Little East Conference Championship on October 2, 2024 at Keene Country Club. Poirier shot a 64 (-7) in that round for the Huskies as a freshman.
 
The Castleton Invitational continues tomorrow at 11:00 am. The first tee time for the Huskies will be 11:40 am. The Huskies' B team will play the Colby Sid Farr Invitational at Waterville Country Club.