Saffell Among Leaders at Even-Par, Men’s Golf T-4th After First Day of NE10 Championship
ENDICOTT, N.Y. (October 2, 2022) -- The Franklin Pierce University men's golf team did not have the finest final tune-up a week ago, leading into this week's Northeast-10 Conference Championship. It did not slow the team up much on Sunday though, during the first two rounds of the three-round competition, which is being hosted by Le Moyne at the par-72, 6600-yard En-Joie Golf Club. The Ravens turned in a first-round 310 (+12), then were 17 shots better with an afternoon 293 (+5), and are tied-fourth in an 11-team field, at 603 (+27), with one round to play.
It was freshman Seth Saffell (Castro Valley, Calif.) who paced Franklin Pierce on the first day of the tournament, as he turned in back-to-back rounds of even-par 72. His Sunday total of 144 (E) puts him just one shot back of the co-leaders, Southern New Hampshire freshman Evan Rollins and Le Moyne junior Tyler Birdd, who are both at 143 (-1), atop a 55-golfer leaderboard.
Saffell was the only Raven inside the top 20, but the next three came shortly thereafter. Senior Michael Sosik (Fiskdale, Mass.) is solo-21st at 77-76--153 (+9), while freshman Riley Richards (East Montpelier, Vt.) and junior Thomas Hickey (Moultonborough, N.H.) are both part of a four-way tie for 22nd at 154 (+10). Richards took the circuitous route, with an opening-round 84 (+12), which he followed up with a strong second-round of 70 (-2). Hickey was more consistent, at 79-75--154. Junior Jake Berkio (Ashburnham, Mass.) rounded out Franklin Pierce's participation on Sunday, and is tied-37th, at 82-77--159 (+15).
Taking the low four scores from each round added up to 310-293--603 (+27) for the Ravens, on a day where the course played two-and-a-half strokes easier in the afternoon's second round. Franklin Pierce finds itself tied for fourth with Adelphi, which went 308-295--603 (+27). SNHU is two shots clear of the field with one round to play, after a Sunday line of 304-287--591 (+15). Host Le Moyne is second at 300-293--593 (+17), while Assumption is third at 305-291--596 (+20).
The Northeast-10 Championship will wrap up with the third and final round on Monday at En-Joie Golf Club.