Buschmann paces Bryant after Day 1

BUSCHMANN LEADS BRYANT AFTER DAY 1 OF HARTFORD HAWK INVITATIONAL

SMITHFIELD, R.I. -- Rookie Kyle Buschmann (East Haddam, Conn.) shot a two-round 157 at the first day of the Hartford Hawk Invitational Monday to pace the Bryant University golf team, who sits in 15th entering the tournament's final round Tuesday.

Buschmann's second-round 77 marked the top single-round performance for the Bulldogs Monday and ranked the frosh tied for 50th overall. Sophomore Conor McGovern (Darien, Conn.) trails just three strokes behind his teammate (81-79) and is tied for 62nd, while senior Samuel Russell (Southborough, Mass.) is knotted at 68th after carding laps of 83 and 79 for a day-one score of 162.

Freshman Joseph Walp (Portland, Maine) earned the team's best score in the opening round with a 79 but fell back to 163 with a round-two 84 (T70th). Matthew Pelletier (Dartmouth, Mass.) looks to make up ground in Tuesday's final go after finishing Monday action with a 168 in 82nd place overall.

Host school University of Hartford leads the team field with a two-round 584, nine strokes ahead of second-place URI. The Hawks also boast one of the top two individual scoreboard leaders in Patrick Ross, whose 142 was highlighted by a first-round score of 69. Temple's Brandon Matthews recorded the top score of the day with a 68 in the second round and is tied with Ross for the individual top spot.

Play continues from Bull's Ridge Golf Club in South Kent, Conn., Tuesday.