CONCORD, N.H. (September 26, 2022) -- The Franklin Pierce University men's golf team left itself with some work to do on Tuesday, following a round of 308 (+20) on Monday, at the first day of the Penmen Invitational, hosted by Southern New Hampshire. The Ravens sit ninth out of 15 teams at the midpoint, in the midst of a crowded midfield, which sees them only eight shots out of the top five, but also only 12 shots clear of a bottom-three finish. Junior Thomas Hickey (Moultonborough, N.H.) was Franklin Pierce's leader on Monday, with an opening-round 73 (+1), and is tied-13^th in an 84-golfer field which saw 12 scores of par or better on the day, at the par-72, 6500-yard Beaver Meadow Golf Course.

At the top of the leaderboard, Le Moyne senior Nicholas Bove was one of nine to shoot under par, with a Monday 69 (-3), good for a one-shot lead. Assumption junior Sean Magarian and St. Thomas Aquinas sophomore Nolan Skaggs followed in a tie for second, after each carded a 70 (-2).

Behind Hickey, only one other Raven could crack the top 30 on Monday, as freshman Seth Saffell (Castro Valley, Calif.) is tied-27^th, after a first-round 76 (+4). Farther back, junior Jake Berkio (Ashburnham, Mass.) is tied-45^th at 79 (+7), senior Michael Sosik (Fiskdale, Mass.) is tied-52^nd at 80 (+8) and sophomore Peter Wurszt (Wilbraham, Mass.) is tied-62^nd at 81 (+9).

It all added up to the 20-over 308 for the Ravens, who sit ninth, nestled between Saint Anselm in eighth at 305 (+17) and Merrimack in 10^th at 311 (+23). Up front, Le Moyne leads the way after an opening-round 289 (+1), good for a one-shot lead over Assumption at 290 (+2). Host SNHU is third, at 297 (+9). Le Moyne had two players shoot under par and has three of its five golfers inside the top 15 at the midway point.

The Penmen Invitational will wrap up with the second round on Tuesday at Beaver Meadow.