Buschmann tied for third after two rounds

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – After heavy rains forced the postponement of the first round of the 2013 Northeast Conference Golf Championship, the weather stayed away long enough Saturday to play 36 holes, as Bryant University rookie Kyle Buschmann (East Haddam, Conn.) led the Bulldogs to a two-round 610 and an eighth-place standing entering the final day of competition.

Buschmann's even 144 (70-74) placed him in a four-way tie for third overall on the individual leaderboard, while classmate Joseph Walp (Portland, Maine) sits tied for 11th with a five-over 149 (76-73).

Junior Zach Garbacik (South Hadley, Mass.) recovered from a tough opening round of 86 to card an even-par 72 on the second 18 holes and currently stands 33rd on the individual circuit (158), followed directly by teammate Samuel Russell (Southborough, Mass.), whose two-lap 159 (81-78) has him tied for 34th overall.

Sophomore Conor McGovern (Darien, Conn.) struggled in Saturday action, finishing at 266, and enters Sunday play tied for 53rd.

In a tight team race, LIU Brooklyn leads the pack after two rounds, scoring a 17-over 593 on the day. Just three strokes separate the second- through fifth-place teams, as Fairleigh Dickinson sits three strokes back on the Blackbirds in second in with a 596 (+20). Robert Morris came in just one stroke behind the Knights with a Saturday score of 597, and Saint Francis U. is one stroke beyond the Colonials for fourth entering Sunday play (598). Central Connecticut adds a single stroke to the Red Flash total and rounds out the tournament's top five with a day-one 599.

Monmouth is currently in sixth, carding a 602 score, while Sacred Heart sits in seventh (609) and Bryant ranks eighth (610) entering Sunday's final lap. Mount St. Mary's (643), Wagner (649) and St. Francis Brooklyn (656) round out the 11-team field.

The 2013 NEC Men's Golf championship will conclude Sunday following the final 18 holes.