The Falcons have a 10-stroke lead over field; The Valiants have a six-stroke lead
CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL
HERSHEY, Pa. (Men’s Golf) – The first day of the Commonwealth Conference and Freedom Conference Men’s Golf Championships came to an end just before dusk. Defending Commonwealth Conference Champion Messiah leads the Commonwealth Tournament by 10 strokes, while Manhattanville leads the Freedom Tournament by six strokes.
COMMONWEALTH
Messiah shot a 311 (+27) on day one to take an 11-stroke lead over Stevenson, who finished with a team score of 321 (+37). Lebanon Valley is currently in third with a score of 327 (+43). Alvernia (331 / +47) and Albright (333 / +49) are in fourth and fifth, respectively. Widener is currently in sixth with a score of 353 (+69), while Arcadia and Lycoming are tied for seventh with team scores of 355 (+71). Hood sits ninth through day on with a team score of 356 (+72).
Messiah’s Jordan Kirsch and Stevenson’s Al El Kordi-Hubbard both shot a three-over-par 74 to lead the individual standings. Alvernia’s Chris Van Natta and Messiah’s Justin Sisson are tied for third with a first-round score of 78 (+7). Four guys are currently tied for fifth with a 79 (+8), including Jonathan Bensing (Lebanon Valley), Aaron Brown (Lebanon Valley), Stachel Johnsen (Messiah) and Avery Jones (Albright).
The Falcons’ five golfers all finished in the top-12 on day one, with its scoring-four finishing in the top-9.
FREEDOM
Manhattanville shot a 326 (+42) on day one to take a six-stroke lead over King’s, who finished with a team score of 332 (+48). Wilkes was just two strokes behind the Monarchs with a team score of 334 (+50). Delaware Valley (346 / +62) and DeSales (348 / +64) are in fourth and fifth, respectively. Misericordia is just three strokes behind the Bulldogs with a team score of 351 (+67), and Eastern is in seventh with a score of 354 (+70). Fairleigh Dickinson-Florham finished day one in eighth with a score of 362 (+78).
Delaware Valley’s Dom Foti currently has a two-stroke lead with a 77 (+6) on day one. Wilkes’ Matt Kachurak sits in second with a first-round score of 79 (+8). Manhattanville’s Eric Michalak, Joseph Mullarkey and King’s Ryan Tracy are all tied for third with a score of 80 (+9). King’s Bill Dombroski and DeSales’ Ryan Gutshall are tied for sixth with a score of 81 (+10). Three guys are tied for eighth with a score of 82 (+11), including Jamie Egan (Misericordia), Tanner Hicks (Manhattanville) and Ryan Torresin (Eastern).
Both tournaments were being their second and final rounds tomorrow at 8 a.m.