HAWORTH, N.J. (March 21, 2022) -- The Franklin Pierce University men's golf team was back in action on Monday, as the Ravens opened the spring portion of their season at the first day of the two-day Battle at the Beech, hosted by Dominican (N.Y.) College, at the par-72, 6839-yard White Beeches Golf & Country Club. Franklin Pierce turned in a first-round 313 (+25) and is second at the midpoint of the tournament, six strokes in back of Post, which carded a 307 (+19).

Franklin Pierce was led by a pair who sit in the top 10 of the 67-golfer field after the first round. Freshman Peter Wurszt (Wilbraham, Mass.) is just two shots in back of the lead at the midway point and is in fourth place, after an opening-round 75 (+3), while junior Michael Sosik (Fiskdale, Mass.) is tied-eighth after a 78 (+6). Freshman Jack Paterson (Franklin, Mass.) made it three Ravens in the top 15, as he turned in a 79 (+7) and is tied-13^th.  All five members of the Franklin Pierce lineup are inside the top 30 with one round to go, as sophomore Jake Berkio (Ashburnham, Mass.) is tied-26^th at 81 (+9), while sophomore Thomas Hickey (Moultonborough, N.H.) is tied-28^th at 82 (+10).

It all added up to the opening-round 313 (+25) for the Ravens, who are in second place in the 12-team field, and will be looking to hunt down Post on Tuesday. The Ravens will also have to guard against advances from behind, with the top five separated by just 15 shots, while a spread of 20 shots covers the top nine squads. Behind Franklin Pierce, American International at 317 (+29), Bentley at 321 (+33) and University of the Sciences at 322 (+34) rounded out the top five.

Individually, AIC freshman Li Su and Post senior Bill Koch both put together one-over-par 73s to tie for the first-round lead, one shot in front of Saint Anselm junior Lucas Dascoli at 74 (+2). Behind Wurszt, three players were tied at 77 (+5) to round out the top five.

The Battle at the Beech will conclude with the final round on Tuesday at White Beeches Golf & Country Club.