MANCHESTER, N.H. (September 20, 2021) -- The Franklin Pierce University men's golf team sputtered through the first of two rounds on Monday, as 36 holes were on the docket at the opening day of the Penmen Fall Invitational, hosted by Southern New Hampshire. The Ravens recovered in their second trip around the 6555-yard, par-70 Derryfield Country Club, but could climb only to ninth, in an 11-team field, with only one round remaining on Tuesday.

Facing a field similar to the one Franklin Pierce finished fifth against last weekend, the first round was somewhat of a debacle for a relatively-young Ravens squad. Sophomore Thomas Hickey (Moultonborough, N.H.) led the way at 74 (+4) and junior Michael Sosik (Fiskdale, Mass.) turned in a 76 (+6), but the rest of the team was in the 80s. Sophomore Jake Berkio (Ashburnham, Mass.) carded an 80 (+10) and freshman Paul Dean (Clinton, Mass.) notched an 83 (+13), while reigning Northeast-10 Conference Rookie of the Week Peter Wurszt (Wilbraham, Mass.) did not even factor in the team scoring after an opening-round 85 (+15).

It all added up to a 313 (+33), which left the Ravens buried in 10^th place, 33 shots off the first-round lead of host SNHU at 280 (E).

The Ravens got it together for the second round, and all five players put together rounds in the 70s. Wurszt was an astounding 15 shots better, with an even-par 70, to lead the way. Berkio put together a 72 (+2), Hickey added a 73 (+3), Sosik posted a 74 (+4) and Dean notched a 78 (+8). The second-round total of 289 (+9) was 24 shots better than the team's opener, but was only good enough to pull the Ravens up to ninth, at 602 (+42).

SNHU made it back-to-back rounds of 280 and leads the way at even-par 560 with one round to play. The Penmen have opened up a 16-shot lead over second-place Post at 576 (+16) and a 24-shot margin over third-place Assumption at 584 (+24).

As for the individuals, SNHU senior Matt Conti carded a 67 (-3) and a 68 (-2) to get to five-under and open up a three-shot lead with 18 holes to play. Saint Anselm senior James Henry is second at two-under, while SNHU sophomore AJ Cavotta and Post sophomore Ethan Phillips are tied-third at one-under.

Hickey is the leading Raven through two rounds at +7, which is tied-17^th in the 60-golfer field. Sosik is tied-29^th (+10), Berkio is solo-36^th (+12), Wurszt is solo-45^th (+15), and Dean is tied-55^th (+21).

The Ravens will look to salvage what they can on Tuesday, when the Penmen Fall Invitational wraps up with the third and final round at Derryfield Country Club.