HERSHEY, Pa. – Led by three All-Conference performances, the Manhattanville College men's golf team shot a day-two 320 to overcome a 13-stroke deficit and capture the program's fourth MAC Freedom title at the 2016 MAC Freedom Championships, held at the Hershey Country Club East Course on Saturday and Sunday.
 
Entering the day in second place, 13 strokes behind Eastern University, Manhattanville had four players shoot 81 or better to make up the deficit and earn a three-stroke victory over Eastern with a two-day score of 651. The win is the Valiants' fourth MAC Freedom championship in the last seven years and the eighth conference title in the program's 17-year history.
 
Freshman Bryan Platt (Trumbull, Conn./Salisbury School) led the charge for Manhattanville on Sunday, carding a 78 to finish in a tie for fourth place at 160 and earn Co-MAC Freedom Rookie of the Year honors in addition to All-Conference first-team recognition.
 
Senior John Maiolo (Ridgefield, Conn./Ridgefield) earned his first All-MAC Freedom recognition with a spot on the second team after a two-day score of 162 placed him sixth overall. The senior carded a round of 79 on Sunday to move five spots up the leaderboard after an 83 on Saturday. Sophomore Joseph Mullarkey (Cancun, Mexico/International American School of Cancun) also picked All-MAC Freedom second-team honors for the second straight year, carding dual rounds of 82 to finish in a six-way tie for ninth place.
 
In addition, sophomore Chandler Longfellow (Wiscasset, Maine/Wiscasset) made a key contribution to the cause by carding a round of 81 on Sunday, and his two-day score of 165 placed him one shot back of All-Conference recognition in a tie for 15th place. Junior Tanner Hicks (Calgary, Alberta/Edge School) also shot an 86 on Sunday, tying for 30th place at 173 for the weekend.
 
Head coach Arlen Marshall was also recognized as MAC Freedom Coach of the Year following the victory to go with his three All-MAC Freedom golfers.
 
Manhattanville will spend the next few weeks preparing for the NCAA Div. III Championships, which will be held on May 10-13 at Midvale Country Club and Mendon Golf Club in Rochester, N.Y.