BREWSTER, Mass. – The Husson University men's golf team opened play at the New England Intercollegiate Golf Association (NEIGA) Championship on Saturday, shooting a team score of 308 to sit fourth overall following the opening round at The Captains Golf Course.
The Eagles finished the opening day just 11 strokes behind tournament leader Roger Williams University, which carded a 297. Salem State University sits second with a 301, while Wentworth Institute of Technology holds third with a 306, just two strokes ahead of Husson in the 20-team field.
Senior Jace Cook led the Eagles with a two-over-par 74, finishing the opening round tied for sixth individually. Cook turned in a consistent performance on the par-72 Port Course, carding matching 37s on the front and back nine to finish just three strokes behind individual leader Reid Ohanesian of Roger Williams, who shot a one-under-par 71. Cook enters the final round just one stroke outside a four-way tie for second place.
Senior Juan Carlos Hernandez followed with a four-over-par 76 to sit tied for 13th overall. Hernandez got off to a strong start, recording a two-under-par 34 on the front nine before closing with a 42 on the back to remain among the top 15 golfers heading into Sunday's final round.
Senior Ty Dickson finished third among Husson's scoring golfers, carding a six-over-par 78 to sit tied for 24th. Dickson opened with a four-over-par 40 on the front nine before improving with a two-over-par 38 on the back.
Sophomore Michael Bruce rounded out the Eagles' four counting scores with an eight-over-par 80, placing him in a tie for 39th overall. Bruce recorded a 41 on the front nine before shaving two strokes off his score with a 39 on the back.
Sophomore Chase Farnsworth also competed for Husson, finishing tied for 59th after shooting an 11-over-par 83. Farnsworth posted a 42 on the front nine and a 41 on the back.
Competing as an individual, freshman Reese Smith rounded out the Eagles' participants with a 15-over-par 87, placing him 87th overall.
Husson enters Sunday's final round firmly in contention near the top of the leaderboard, trailing third-place Wentworth by just two strokes while holding a one-stroke advantage over fifth-place Gordon College (309). Wesleyan University sits sixth with a 311, followed by Eastern Connecticut State University (312) and Suffolk University (313).
The Eagles return to The Captains Golf Course on Sunday for the second and final round of the NEIGA Championship, looking to climb the leaderboard and close out the two-day tournament with a strong finish.
