NEW CASTLE, DE (May 5, 2008) – Freshman Tom Ayala (East Taunton, MA) carded a five-over-par 76 to lead the UMass Lowell golf team to fifth-place after the first of three rounds at the NCAA Northeast-East Super Regional Monday at Back Creek Golf Course.

The River Hawks compiled a 310 to fifth in the eight-team field. St. Thomas Aquinas scored a 299 to place first while Bryant was close behind with a 300. Pace (303) placed third while Post University (307) took fourth. Adelphi (314), Bentley (324) and Wilmington (329) rounded out the field.

“You can’t win the NCAA regional on the first day, but you can lose it one the first day, so we are right in contention,” said UML Head Coach Gary Mucica. “There is no one on our team who thinks they played their best golf today, so we feel pretty good about where we’re at right now.”

Ayala, who birdied three holes, currently sits in a tie for 10th place while juniors Robbie Douglas (Downey, CA) and Anthony Gallardo (Methuen, MA) each placed in a tie for 16th with a 77. Douglas and Gallardo both thrived on Hole 16, Douglas with a birdie and Gallardo with an eagle.

Sophomore Patrick Bean (Fitchburg, MA) fired an 80 to place in a tie for 27th while junior Matt Bagdovitz (Cobleskill, NY) finished tied for 30th with an 81.

Scott Congdon of Bryant University earned medalist honors with an even-par 71. The field included 45 individual players.

“Our goal was to finish no higher than 300,” Mucica said. “But we’re in the middle of the pack and not far from first. We’ll have to shoot a little better tomorrow.