Bryant takes eighth at Hartford Hawk Invite

SMITHFIELD, R.I. — The Bryant University golf team shot a third-round 302 Tuesday to finish the 2013 Hartford Hawk Invitational in eighth place in the 17-team field.

Junior Conor McGovern (Darien, Conn.), who paced the Bulldogs through day one action, finished tied for 17th after a round-three 76 (75-73-76=224). Freshman Ryan Tombs (Bedford, N.H.) placed in a tie for 34th in the 96-player field with a tournament total of 230 (78-74-78) in his Bulldog debut, while senior Sam Russell (Southborough, Mass.) finished just a stroke behind after a 75 on Tuesday (t-38th).

Sophomore Nicholas Marotta (Orange, N.Y.) led Bryant on the final leg, carding a 73 Tuesday, and would finish tied for 45th overall with a two-day score of 233, while classmate Rocco Spizuoco (Portland, Maine) struggled on the third lap, shooting a 90 to finish 89th on the individual circuit (79-82-90=251).

Rutgers would hold off tournament host Hartford to win the two-day event (868), while the Hawks took second (877) and UConn jumped up two places into third (890). Loyola (Md.) and Temple rounded out the top five with scores of 896 and 898, respectively. The Bulldogs' three-round team score came in at 913.

Bryant is back on the greens at the Connecticut Cup Oct. 14-15.