NORTH DARTMOUTH, Mass. (April 9, 2001) - The Franklin Pierce men's golf team opened its 2001 spring schedule with the UMass Dartmouth Invitational at The Country Club of New Bedford this afternoon.

Franklin Pierce placed fourth in the four-team event, but it must be noted that the Ravens were coming from an environment in which a one-foot layer of snow still covers the ground. Franklin Pierce shot a team score of 359, finishing 27 strokes behind event-winning Salem State College who fired a 332 team score.

Freshman Aaron Nackoul (Pittsfield, Mass./Pittsfield) posted the Ravens low score with an 84 on the par-72 course, which was just three strokes off medalist Scott Conley's 81 for Salem State. Nackoul finished in fifth place among the individual leaders.

Senior Jason Bernier (Dover, N.H./Dover) registered an 89, while classmate Justin Adams (Ashby, Mass./North Middlesex) and junior Tim Esposito (Brewerton, N.Y./Paul V. Moore) each recorded 93's.

Franklin Pierce returns to the links again on Tuesday, April 17, conditions permitting, when they participate in the Worcester State College Invitational.