Franklin Pierce Golf Team Wins Own Tournament for First Time Since 1998

JAFFREY, N.H. (Sept. 11, 2000) - Anchored by the 5-over-par round of medalist John Learson, the host Franklin Pierce golf team won the ninth annual Franklin Pierce Invitational held Monday at par-71 The Shattuck.

The Ravens topped the four-team field with a four-man score of 344. They were followed by Springfield College (348), St. Anselm's (351) and The Elms, which did not qualify for a team score after two of its four players did not finish the grueling 6,764-yard course.

Learson, a senior from Chelmsford, Mass., put together nines of 39 on the front side and 37 on the back to take medalist honors by six strokes over Greg Hannon of Springfield.

Learson, who also plays for the Franklin Pierce baseball team, is back on the golf team after missing last year because of a conflict with classes. ``He's certainly welcome back,'' Franklin Pierce Coach Owen Houghton said.

Learson becomes the first Franklin Pierce player to be medalist of the tournament and this is just the second time the host school has won the tournament. The Ravens also took the title in 1998.

``We have a good group of freshmen that are pushing the upperclassmen, so standards are high,'' Houghton said. ``Everyone has to bring their game with them, and that makes my job easier.''

Other Franklin Pierce players who figured in the scoring were junior Tim Esposito (Brewerton, N.Y.) at 86, senior Justin Adams (Ashby, Mass.) at 87 and senior Jason Bernier (Dover, N.H.) at 95.

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Franklin Pierce
Invitational
RINDGE, N.H.
Final scores of the 9th annual Franklin Pierce Golf Tournament held on the
6,764-yard, par-71 Shattuck:
Team Scoring
Team Score
Franklin Pierce University
344
Springfield College 348
St. Anselm 351
Elms DQ
Individual Scoring
Name Score
John Learson, FP
39-37-76
Greg Hannon, Springfield 44-38-82
Mike Davis, St. Anselm 43-42-85
Tim Esposito, FP
43-43-86
Kevin Shanahan, St. Anselm 46-40-86
Justin Adams, FP
45-42-87
Aaron Punska, Springfield 47-41-88
Chris Knowlen, Springfield, 43-45-88
Jack Roddy, St. Anselm 42-47-89
Derrick Farnham, Springfield 44-46-90
Mark Hazel, St. Anselm 45-46-91
Scott Fennell, St. Anselm 47-44-91
Andrew Richardson, Springfield 49-44-93
Jason Bernier, FP
49-46-95
Chris DeGeorge, FP
46-51-97
Adam Moulton, Elms 57-49-106
Paul Cooney, Elms 69-63-132
Pat Carpenter, Elms DNF
Bob LoPorto, Elms, DNF