KEENE, N.H. (September 12, 2021) -- It was a strong collegiate debut on Sunday for freshman Peter Wurszt (Wilbraham, Mass.), as he led the way for the Franklin Pierce University men's golf team on the first day of the team's home tournament, the FPU Fall Invitational. Wurszt carded a one-under-par 71 to join a seven-way tie for the lead at the midpoint of the event. Three more players turned in even-par 72s on Sunday at the 6520-yard Keene Country Club. As a team, the Ravens were third, and just three shots back, after the first round of the 14-team, 75-golfer event.

Wurszt led three Ravens who sit in the top 20 after the first round, as sophomore Thomas Hickey (Moultonborough, N.H.) is tied-11^th after an opening 73 (+2) and Michael Sosik (Fiskdale, Mass.) made a solid start to his junior season with a 74 (+3) and is tied for 18^th. Sophomore Jake Berkio (Ashburnham, Mass.) rounded out Franklin Pierce's scoring four with a five-over 77 and is tied-34^th, while freshman Jake LaMonica (Quincy, Mass.) also hit the links for the Ravens and is tied-55^th after carding an 81 (+9) in his debut round at the collegiate level.

The four lowest scores all added up to an opening-round 295 (+7) for the Ravens, which was good enough for third place at the midpoint. Franklin Pierce is three shots back of the lead, which is shared by Southern New Hampshire and Post, which both turned in 292s (+4). Two shots behind the Ravens, at 297 (+9), Goldey-Beacom and American International are tied for fourth.

Individually, six others are tied with Wurszt for the lead: Goldey-Beacom freshman Camilo Samur, Assumption senior Ryan Fillebrown, Adelphi junior Andrew Brunozzi, Dominican (N.Y.) sophomore Alejandro Gomez Cervantes, Post sophomore Ian Wivestad, and AIC freshman Li Su. SNHU freshman Jack Pepin, AIC junior Michael Kays and Bentley freshman Bennett Berg are all one shot back and tied-eighth at even-par 72.

The FPU Fall Invitational will wrap up with the second and final round on Monday at Keene Country Club.