VICTOR, N.Y. (April 11, 2022) -- A young Franklin Pierce University men's golf team finished off its strongest result of the season on Monday at the Ravenwood Golf Club. The Ravens, whose youth has proved volatile at times, improved on an already-solid Sunday round by nine shots with a Monday 303 (+15), to take seventh place at the NCAA Regional Preview, hosted by Le Moyne. Junior Michael Sosik (Fiskdale, Mass.) did the heavy lifting in the second round, as he fired an even-par 72 to jump up 28 spots into a tie for fourth at Ravenwood's 6990-yard Burgundy Course.

The Burgundy Course was slightly more than a shot easier on Monday compared to Sunday, as it yielded a second-round average of 78.30 strokes across the 116-player field. The course will host the NCAA Championship Atlantic/East Regional later this spring, on May 5-7. This week's two-round tournament was designed to give the region's teams a look at the course ahead of NCAA play.

Franklin Pierce had already been tied-ninth in a strong 23-team field after the first round, and then four of the team's five players improved on their scores for the second round. Sosik was the most impressive of the bunch, as his 77-72--149 (+5) was good enough to put him into a three-way tie for fourth, five shots off the pace. Sosik was one of 16 players in the field to move up 25 or more spots on Monday, and one of five players to play their way into the top-10 on the final day of the tournament.

Sophomore Jake Berkio (Ashburnham, Mass.) was the only Raven to shoot a higher second-round score than he had on Sunday, but still slipped inside the top-50, as his 77-79--156 (+12) put him in an eight-way tie for 49^th. Sophomore Thomas Hickey (Moultonborough, N.H.) and freshman Jack Paterson (Franklin, Mass.) had been tied after Sunday's play and remained tied in the end, as they turned in identical lines of 79-78--157 (+13) to join in an eight-golfer tie for 57^th. One shot further back, freshman Peter Wurszt (Wilbraham, Mass.) posted an eight-shot improvement on Sunday to finish at 83-75--158 (+14) and move up 27 spots into a seven-way tie for 65^th.

It all added up to a second-round 303 (+15) and a two-day total of 312-303--615 (+39) for Franklin Pierce which fared best of the four teams which had been tied for ninth after Sunday's play. In seventh place, the Ravens were the top finisher among the seven Northeast-10 Conference teams in attendance at Ravenwood Golf Club, and bested all five teams which finished in front of them at the NE10 Championship in the fall.

Up front, Davis & Elkins converted its first-round lead into a 16-shot victory, with a final line of 301-294--595 (+19). Charleston (W. Va.) and California (Pa.) tied for second at 611 (+35), but got there in very different ways. Charleston showcased its consistency at 307-304--611, while Cal U improved by 17 shots on Monday to move up 11 spots and finish at 314-297--611.

Individually, Davis & Elkins junior Jordan Hyland tied for the low round of the day with a two-under 70, to move up one spot and claim a one-shot victory at 73-70--143 (-1). Hyland edged out the first-round leader, West Liberty senior Alex Eastholm, who surrendered a five-shot lead with a four-over 76, though he still finished solo-second at 68-76--144 (E). Dominican (N.Y.) sophomore Alexander Lundvall went 75-72--147 (+3) to finish solo-third, two shots in front of the three-way tie for fourth.

The Ravens will wrap up the regular season on April 18-19 at the Yellow Jacket Invite, hosted by American International at Springfield Country Club.