Bulldogs, Marotta in third after first day of New England Division I Championship

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Behind solid overall performances from all five Bulldogs, the Bryant University golf team sits in third after Saturday's opening round at the New England Division I Championship.

All five golfers rank inside the top-20 and are separated by just a pair of strokes entering Sunday's second round. Junior Kyle Buschmann (East Haddam, Conn.) leads the way with a 77 that ties him for 11th overall, while sophomore Ryan Tombs (Bedford, N.H.), junior Joe Walp (Portland, Maine) and sophomore McKinley Slade (Saunderstown, R.I.) all carded a six-over 78 to tie for 13th on the individual leaderboard. Sophomore John Roberts (West Hartford, Conn.) is tied at 17th with a 79 after Saturday's opening lap.

Four more Bulldogs competed as individuals as well, a group that is paced by junior Nicholas Marotta (Orange, N.Y.) at just a two-over 74 to enter Sunday action ranked third on the individual circuit. Senior Conor McGovern (Darien, Conn.) sits in 10th with a first-day 76, with senior Taylor Hammond (Hopkinton, Mass.) tied for 22nd (80) and rookie Gabriel Van Ness (Clinton, Conn.) in 32nd (84).

As a team, Bryant carded a 311 (+23), 14 strokes behind current leader URI (297). Fordham sits in second (305), while UMass Lowell (320) and Holy Cross (324) trail the Bulldogs and round out the field.

Play continues from Newport National Sunday.