Tombs, Slade pace Bulldogs to first-place standing after opening round of Ryan Lee Memorial Tournament Saturday

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Seniors Ryan Tombs (Bedford, N.H.) and McKinley Slade (Saunderstown, R.I.) each shot a one-under 71 to tie for third place after the first round of the Ryan Lee Memorial Tournament Saturday, anchoring the Bryant University golf team to a first-place team standing entering Sunday action.

Sophomore Ryan Brown (Bedford, N.H.) and rookie William Del Biaggio (San Jose, Calif.) also earned top-10 starts, tying for sixth in the individual circuit with a one-over 73.

Playing as an individual, senior Hayden Maroun (Moultonborough, N.H.) sits tied for 42nd after round one with a five-over 77, while classmate John Roberts (West Hartford, Conn.) will look to move up after a 79 (+7) placed him tied for 59th after Saturday play.

The Bulldogs finished the opening lap at even par (288) to lead the 14-team field in their first event of the 2016-17 season, sitting six strokes ahead of Central Connecticut (294) and eight in front of Wagner and Fordham (296).

Fordham's Joseph Trim and Manhattan's Connor O'Rourke lead the individual field after carding two-under 70s in the opening round.

Place continues Sunday from Hopmeadow Country Club in Simsbury, Conn.