Cadets capture Tony Mariano Invitational, reclaim top honors on home turf

The Norwich University men’s golf team did not just return to the greens of the Country Club of Barre, they reclaimed their crown. With a commanding team performance at the Tony Mariano Invitational, the Cadets secured first place for the third time in the tournament’s four-year history.

Leading the charge was Cooper Bertrand, the reigning Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Golfer of the Week, who delivered a masterclass round. Bertrand carded a two-under-par 69, earning medalist honors by three strokes over New England College’s Graham Hassan. It was Bertrand’s consistency, poise, and touch that set the tone early and carried the Cadets through the day.

Team Depth Shines

While Bertrand’s performance stood tall, the Cadets’ victory was built on balance and depth. Colin Elliott tied for third at six-over, holding steady on the back nine when conditions stiffened. JD Mahoney added a top-10 finish, tying for seventh at +9, while Ben van Waterschoot and Jack Dunn rounded out Norwich’s scoring with resilient efforts that kept the team safely ahead of challengers.

• Bertrand: 1st place, -2
• Elliott: T-3rd place, +6
• Mahoney: T-7th place, +9
• van Waterschoot: T-10th place, +1-
• Dunn: T-18th place, +12

A New Era Under Roberts

For Coach Roberts, the win marked his first tournament title for the first-year head coach. A native of Lansdale, Pennsylvania, Roberts brings a lifetime in golf to Northfield, competing as a youth at Pinecrest Country Club and later serving in a variety of club roles across Wisconsin. From instruction to course management, Roberts has been involved in almost every aspect of successful golf. 
He inherited a program that placed fourth at the 2025 GNAC Championships and produced a Second Team All-Conference selection in Bertrand, who also doubles as a two-sport athlete.

The Tournament's Namesake

The invitational itself carries weight well beyond the scorecard. First staged in 2022, it represented Norwich’s first home golf match in two decades. It was named in honor of Tony Mariano, a fixture of Norwich athletics who served the university for 44 years, including three decades as director of athletics.

Mariano, a Northfield resident, retired in 2022 after reshaping the athletic department into a modern, competitive program. His leadership was recognized by the Great Northeast Athletic Conference, which named him the 2022 Executive of the Year. The University further honored him with induction into the Norwich Athletic Hall of Fame in 2021.

Since its inception, the tournament has belonged largely to Norwich. The Cadets claimed top honors in 2022 and 2023, narrowly missed in 2024, and returned to the winner’s circle this fall. For alumni, players, and supporters, the victory underscores not only a proud tradition but also a program poised for the future.