Loyola Maryland Men’s Golf Ties for Eighth at Hamptons Intercollegiate Behind Strong Final Round
By Brian Hradsky | Maryland Sports Blog | October 9, 2026
The Loyola University Maryland men’s golf team battled difficult weather conditions and a nationally competitive field to finish tied for eighth at the seventh annual Hamptons Intercollegiate on Tuesday, October 6. The Greyhounds finished alongside Duke University after producing one of the strongest final rounds of the tournament at Maidstone Club in East Hampton, New York. Junior Eli Spaulding led Loyola with a 1-under-par 71 in the final round, while freshman Zach Berger continued his promising start to the season with another top-25 individual finish.
Loyola entered Tuesday tied for ninth after completing the first two rounds at 18-over par. The Greyhounds responded with a 12-over final round, giving them a three-round total of 30-over par and allowing them to move into a tie for eighth. Sustained winds of approximately 25 mph created challenging playing conditions, making consistent scoring particularly difficult. Loyola nevertheless recorded the sixth-best team round of the final day, an encouraging result against several prominent programs.
Spaulding Leads Greyhounds With Top-15 Finish
Spaulding delivered Loyola’s best overall individual performance, finishing tied for 13th at 3-over-par 219 across 54 holes. His final-round 71 was his lowest score of the tournament and one of the team’s most important contributions Tuesday. Spaulding birdied the par-3 fourth hole and finished his round with five consecutive pars, demonstrating consistency despite the difficult conditions. His performance helped Loyola gain ground during the final 18 holes.
Berger also played an important role in Loyola’s performance, finishing tied for 22nd after shooting a 1-over 73 in the final round. The freshman opened the tournament with a 1-under 71 on Monday, recording five birdies during his first 18 holes. Although the changing weather conditions made scoring more challenging throughout the competition, Berger remained competitive against an experienced field. His top-25 finish provides another encouraging indication of the young golfer’s potential within Loyola’s lineup.
Moloney, Neira and Geyer Contribute
Sophomore Liam Moloney produced one of Loyola’s most impressive individual rounds during Monday’s opening session, shooting a 3-under-par 69. Moloney recorded six birdies during that round, giving the Greyhounds an early boost before winds intensified later in the day. He eventually finished tied for 40th at 11-over par after shooting an 8-over final round Tuesday. Despite the difficult finish, his opening-round performance demonstrated his ability to produce low scores against strong competition.
Redshirt junior Diego Neira finished tied for 38th at 10-over par after recording a 4-over final round. Neira had previously contributed a 3-over 75 during Monday’s second round, helping Loyola remain competitive when conditions deteriorated. Sophomore Jack Geyer completed the five-player team lineup, finishing tied for 61st individually. Together, the group helped Loyola improve its position during the final round and finish level with Duke.
Simpson Adds Another Top-25 Finish
Freshman Matthew Simpson provided another positive result while competing as an individual rather than as part of Loyola’s five-player team scoring lineup. Simpson improved his scores throughout the tournament, posting rounds of 75, 74 and 73 to finish at 6-over-par 222. His final-round 73 matched Berger’s Tuesday score and secured a tie for 22nd individually. Although Simpson’s performance did not count toward Loyola’s team total, it demonstrated the depth developing within the Greyhounds’ roster.
Florida Wins Tournament Championship
The University of Florida captured the team championship with a 54-hole total of 6-under par, finishing 15 strokes ahead of second-place Rutgers. The Gators shot a 6-over 294 during Tuesday’s final round but had built enough of an advantage over the opening two rounds to secure the victory. Wake Forest finished third, followed by Florida State, Utah, Mississippi and Princeton, with Duke and Loyola tied for eighth. Utah’s Gabriel Palacios claimed individual medalist honors with a remarkable 12-under-par 204, winning by seven strokes.
The tournament featured 12 teams and brought several nationally recognized programs to one of the country’s historic golf venues. Maidstone Club’s West Course measures 6,742 yards and plays as a par 72, with coastal winds and exposed terrain creating additional challenges. The course originally opened in 1924 and underwent a significant renovation in 2012. Loyola hosted the tournament for the seventh time, continuing an event that provides the program with opportunities to compete against high-level opponents.
Loyola’s Fall Season Continues
The Hamptons Intercollegiate marked another competitive test during Loyola’s 2026 fall schedule. The Greyhounds previously finished fifth at the Redhawk Intercollegiate in September and tied for fourth at the Macdonald Cup later that month. Although their eighth-place tie at Maidstone was a lower team finish, the strength of the field and demanding conditions offered valuable experience. Loyola also received encouraging performances from its younger golfers, particularly Berger and Simpson, who both finished among the top 25.
Loyola will return to competition October 19-20 at the Qubein Cup, scheduled for Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, North Carolina. The Greyhounds will then travel to Mexico for the Monterrey Collegiate Classic on October 26-27, concluding their fall tournament schedule. Both events will provide opportunities for Loyola to build on its individual performances and improve its overall team consistency. The program will eventually turn its attention toward the spring season and the Patriot League Championships, scheduled for April 30-May 2, 2027.
MSB Take
Loyola’s eighth-place tie might not immediately stand out, but the Greyhounds deserve credit for competing against a field that included Florida, Florida State, Wake Forest and Duke. The final-round performance was particularly encouraging because Loyola handled difficult weather conditions well enough to record the sixth-best team score Tuesday. Spaulding’s top-15 finish showed the importance of having experienced players who can remain consistent, while Berger and Simpson demonstrated that Loyola has promising young talent. If the Greyhounds can combine those individual performances with more consistent scoring throughout their lineup, they should have opportunities to move up the standings during the remainder of the season.
The biggest takeaway is that Loyola has both experienced leadership and young players capable of competing in strong tournament fields. Spaulding’s performance provided stability, while Berger, Simpson and Moloney each demonstrated the ability to deliver competitive rounds. The challenge moving forward will be putting those performances together across all three rounds of a tournament rather than relying on individual highlights. Loyola has time to make those improvements before the Patriot League Championships, where consistency across the lineup could prove especially important.
Sources: Loyola Athletics — Final Results · Opening Rounds · 2026–27 Schedule
