GUILDERLAND, N.Y. – The Felician University men's golf team matched up with some of the best programs the NCAA Division II East Region has to offer on Friday on Saturday. At the College of Saint Rose Fall Shootout, staged at the par-71 Pinehaven Country Club, Felician fought its way to a ninth-place showing.
The 10-team field contained eight schools that qualified for the 2016-17 NCAA East Regional Championship tournament, including regional champion Dominican (N.Y.) College. The Golden Falcons were in 10th place by seven strokes after Friday's round, having shot 327. But Felician turned in its best team score of the 2017-18 season on Saturday, a 312, and its 36-hole total of 639 allowed it to edge Roberts Wesleyan College by one shot for ninth.
Golden Falcon sophomore Jake Storako (Laurel Springs, N.J./Highland Regional) tied for 18th place in the 59-player field, leading Felician on both days. Storako carded a 79 on the 6,500-yard course on Friday, then improved to 75 on Saturday for a 12-over-par total of 154.
Felician junior Justin Keiser (Bellport, N.Y./Bellport) shot 81-79-160 and tied for 38th place. One shot behind Keiser was senior Chris Bekefi (Toms River, N.J./Toms River North), who tied for 42nd with a 161 (83-78), one off his season-best 36-hole performance.
After firing 85 on Day 1, senior Tommy Giunta (Jackson, N.J./Marlboro) totaled a career-best single round of 80 on Saturday. His +23 score of 165 tied for 50th place. Completing the Golden Falcon lineup was senior Andrew Capone (Denville, N.J./Parsippany Hills) (58th, 84-96-180).
Franklin Pierce University won the tournament. Its +20 total of 588 (291-297) was nine strokes fewer than runner-up Le Moyne College (306-291). FPU sophomore Sam Myers was the medalist. His 144 (70-74, +2) edged a trio of players, including teammate Keeton Foster, by one shot.
Felician returns immediately to action in Watertown, Conn., at the Eagle Invitational, hosted by fellow Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference member Post University. After a practice round on Sunday, the tournament will consist of 18-hole rounds on Monday at 10 a.m. and Tuesday at 8 a.m.
