April 1-2, 2001

Issue, Md. - Siena sophomore Mark Thornhill (Saratoga, N.Y./Saratoga) fired an 11-over-par 155 (78-77) to propel the Saints to a fifth place finish at the George Washington Invitational. The Saints finished with a 632 team total which was 16 shots behind Mc Neese State University who finished first at 616. The Saints competed in a field of 29 teams on the par 72, 6,761 yard Swan Point Yacht and Country Club. The field included 149 golfers from various school from the northeast, from such conferences as the Big East, Atlantic Ten, and the Patriot League. The Saints finished ahead of every team from each of these power conferences, in addition to placing ahead of the other six MAAC schools that competed in the event.

Thornhill's two round total of 155 placed him 11 shots behind George Washington's Thomas Blankvoort who fired back-to-back rounds of 72 to finish at even par. Blankvoort's two round total on his home course placed him seven shots of the nearest competitor.

Also playing well for the Saints were sophomores Chris Rousseau (Feeding Hills, Mass./Agawam) and Jim Ohlsen (Saratoga Springs, N.Y./Spa Catholic) who finished in an eight-way tie for 28th place at 158. Rousseau carded an impressive two-over-par 74 on the first day of competition, before slipping to 84 in the second round to finish at 14-over-par for the tournament. Ohlsen turned in a steady performance with rounds of 78 and 80 to also finish at 14-over-par. Freshman Ben Eldridge (Ballston Spa, N.Y./Ballston Spa) was the fourth scorer for the Saints, turning in rounds of 81 and 80 to finish in a tie for 46th place at 17-over-par.