BERLIN, Md. – A second-round 71 by junior Jake Storako (Laurel Springs, N.J./Highland Regional) highlighted Felician University's trip to the Crab To Go Men's Golf Invitational hosted by Dominican (N.Y.) College on Monday at Ocean City Golf Club at Newport Bay.
Dominican welcomed seven other teams from the Northeast Region of NCAA Division II to join them on the trip south to Maryland. The 47 entrants played two 18-hole rounds on the same day. Felician finished fifth in the team standings, starting with a 314 before signing for a 318 second round despite Storako's one-under-par total.
Storako began his tournament with a 79 after which he sat in 18th place. His second round, like his first, began on the par-3 seventh hole. After two pars, he made an eagle on the par-5 ninth, then followed with a birdie to move to three-under par.
As the evening wore on, conditions became more difficult due to cold and wind. But Storako managed his game well, posting three birdies, four bogies and the eagle and completing his round with four consecutive pars. His second round was the lowest in the field, and his 36-hole total of 150 tied for sixth place in the event.
Storako became the first player in the 14-year history of the Felician program to shoot 71 three times. The school single-round record is 70 by Joe Peters in April 2010.
The course laid out at 6,606 yards. Freshman Gonzalo Maldonado Felices (Almeria, Spain/Stella Maris) led the Golden Falcons in Round 1 with a 77, then followed up with an 81. His +14 total of 158 placed 10th in the field.
Junior transfers Christian Lauchaire (Annandale, N.J./North Hunterdon) and Prince Sukklabsawan (Si Racha, Thailand/Heritage Academy [S.C.]) enjoyed identical days. Both players signed for 79-83-162 and tied for 27th place. Senior Justin Keiser (Bellport, N.Y./Bellport) tallied 81-84-165 to finish in a tie for 33rd.
Six of the eight teams in attendance, including the Golden Falcons, were Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference members. Felician finished 15 strokes behind fourth-place Wilmington (Del.) University and seven ahead of the College of Saint Rose in sixth.
St. Thomas Aquinas College won the tournament with a +21 score of 597, edging the host Chargers by two shots. STAC freshman Jake Yarmolowitz was the medalist and the only player to break par, shooting 69-74-143.
Felician is next in action at the Long Island Invitational, hosted by St. Joseph's College-Patchogue, on Apr. 6-7.
