ENDICOTT, N.Y. (October 3, 2022) -- Freshman Seth Saffell (Castro Valley, Calif.) of the Franklin Pierce University men's golf team made it three straight rounds of even-par with yet another 72 on Monday, to finish solo-second at 216 (E), just two shots behind the medalist at the Northeast-10 Conference Championship. Saffell's impressive debut at the championship level led the Ravens to a fourth-place finish, after a Monday 297 (+9) and a three-round total of 900 (+36). The tournament was hosted by Le Moyne at the par-72, 6600-yard En-Joie Golf Club.

Saffell's highly-consistent line of 72-72-72--216 (E) was good enough to put him as low freshman at the event, three shots clear of Southern New Hampshire first-year Evan Rollins, who finished tied-fourth at 73-70-76--219 (+3). Saffell was also just two shots off the individual NE10 champion, Le Moyne junior Tyler Birdd, who converted his second-round lead into a victory at 69-74-71--214 (-2). Jack Moy was third at 77-74-67--218 (+2), one shot in front of the tie for fourth between Rollins and Assumption junior Mitchell Tarrio. Each of the top-five finishers was named to the NE10's All-Championship Team at the conclusion of play.

Meanwhile, for the Ravens, two others slipped inside the top 20 when all was said and done. Freshman Riley Richards (East Montpelier, Vt.) turned in a line of 84-70-74--228 (+12), while senior Michael Sosik (Fiskdale, Mass.) checked in at 77-76-75--228 (+12), as both finished as part of three-way tie for 19^th on the 54-golfer leaderboard. Junior Thomas Hickey (Moultonborough, N.H.) was not much farther back, as he was tied-23^rd at 78-79-73--230 (+14). Junior Jake Berkio (Ashburnham, Mass.) rounded out Franklin Pierce's participation in the tournament, and finished tied-43^rd at 82-77-88--247 (+31).

The low four scores on Tuesday added up to a final-round 297 (+9) for the Ravens, who finished with a two-day line of 310-293-297--900 (+36). The 297 was the third-best round of the day in the 11-team field, but was not enough for Franklin Pierce to catch any of the teams in front of them, though the Ravens did finish one shot ahead of Adelphi at 308-295-298--901 (+37), after the two had been tied for fourth at the end of play Sunday.

Up front, Assumption used a third-round 289 (+1), which was the lowest round of the day, to jump up two spots and claim its second straight NE10 title, and third overall, all of which have come in the last four years. The Greyhounds finished at 305-291-289--885 (+21), which was good for a four-shot victory over SNHU, at 304-287-298--889 (+25). Host Le Moyne finished seven shots in front of the Ravens in third, at 300-293-300--893 (+29).

Franklin Pierce has one more tournament left on its fall schedule, which is next weekend. The Ravens will travel to Watertown, Conn., on Oct. 10-11, for the Post University Invitational.