MIDDLEBURY, Vt.—First-year Aman Vantipalli (Alpharetta, Ga.) fired a 2-over 73 to help the 21st-ranked Babson College men's golf team settle into sixth place after round one of the Duke Nelson Invitational at Ralph Myhre Golf Club on Saturday. 

The Beavers posted a team score of 19-over 303 and are just five shots in back of first-round leader Hartford, which shot 298 and holds a two-stroke lead at 14-over. Hamilton and Middlebury are tied for second at 16-over 300, Tufts (301) is fourth at 17-over and Trinity (302) rounds out the top five at 18-over. 

Vantipalli made his second birdie of the day on his final hole, the par-5 first, to finish in a tie for fifth place just three shots off the individual lead. Sophomore Evan Eichenlaub (Bethlehem, Pa.) made three birdies and is tied for eighth position at 3-over after opening with a round of 74 on Saturday. 

Senior John Baldwin  (Little Compton, R.I.) and junior Tomas Amaya (Singer Island, Fla.) are both tied for 50th place at 7-over after shooting a first round 78, while sophomore Jack Berry (Western Springs, Ill.) is tied for 59th position after opening with an 8-over 79. 

Babson, which has finished first at the Duke Nelson Invitational twice over the last three seasons, begins final round play on Sunday at 9 a.m.