A federal judge has shot down a claim by the son of former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani that Duke University breached a contract when it kicked him off the golf team.

Andrew Giuliani claimed in a July 2008 lawsuit that in cutting him from the team, Duke reneged on a contract that promised him golf team membership and a lifetime of access to Duke's "state-of-the-art" golf facilities.

U.S. District Court Judge William Osteen, Jr. wasn't buying it, writing that statements made by golf coaches during the recruiting process guaranteed Giuliani nothing more than a chance to compete for a spot on the team.

"The statement does not promise unconditional and unlimited opportunities to be on the golf team," Osteen wrote in dismissing Giuliani's claims.

“We are gratified the Court agreed that our coaches have the authority to dismiss a student-athlete from an intercollegiate sports team in circumstances such as those present in this case," said Michael Schoenfeld, a Duke spokesman.

For more on this story, read Wednesday's News & Observer.