Tombs finishes second, Bulldogs jump to seventh at Lonnie Barton Invitational

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University golf team rebounded Tuesday, recording the second-best team score to finish seventh at the Lonnie Barton Invitational in Daytona Beach, Fla.

The second round saw the Bulldogs card a 304, as the team jumped from 11th to seventh in the final standings with a two-day total of 634 (+58). Senior Ryan Tombs (Bedford, N.H.) led the way, finishing second on the individual circuit thanks to a one-under 71 in round two.

The senior rose six places to take the runner-up spot, carding a combined 146 to finish three strokes off eventual winner Nick Contini of Longwood. Sophomore Ryan Brown (Bedford, N.H.) finished Tuesday action with a 73 (+1) to rocket 33 places up the standings and tie for 30th (160), while senior teammate McKinley Slade (Saunderstown, R.I.) also rose double-digit spots with a second-day 78 (87-78=165). Slade finished in a tie for 52nd.

Rookies Matthew Stafford (Suffield, Conn.) and Will Del Biaggio (San Jose, Calif.) finished tied for 61st (81-88=169) and tied for 64th (88-82=170), respectively. Senior John Roberts (West Hartford, Conn.), who was playing as an individual, tied for 36th overall with a two-day score of 161 (81-80).

Longwood won the two-day event, finishing five under par Tuesday for a two-round score of 591. Fort Wayne finished second (614), with Sacred Heart (620), Robert Morris (624) and Towson (628) wrapping up the top five.

The Bulldogs return to the greens March 25-26, when they travel to Maryland to participate in the Towson Spring Invitational.