May 3, 2010

Round One Results

Sophomore Brandon Robinson (Hampstead, NH) birdied four holes and scored a two-over 74 to lead the UMass Lowell golf team to ninth place after the first round of the NCAA Division II East-Atlantic Super Regional at the Glades Spring Resort’s Cobb Course.

UMass Lowell scored a combined 312, 24 strokes over par. Tournament host Concordia sits in first place with a 290, just two strokes over par while Indiana (PA) is currently second with a 294 (+6). American International leads all East Region schools in third place with a seven-over 295.

“As I always say, you can’t win it on the first day but you can lose it on the first day,” said UML Head Coach Gary Mucica. “We need to make up seven strokes over two days and I think we can do that. We need a couple rounds of 305 and we’ll be fine. If we can get around a 915 for the three rounds, we can advance. We’re optimistic. We’ve got a good team.”

Robinson currently sits in a tie for 10th place in the 108-player field and birdied four holes, including the 549-yard 18th, the 526-yard fifth and 501-yard 12th hole.

“I think Brandon’s best competitive round this year was a 75 (at the Goldey-Beacom Invitational),” said Mucica. “He can play at this level all the time. He’s got great talent. He’s getting so he feels comfortable with this whole setting.”

Sophomore Thomas Ayala (East Taunton, MA), who has been idle nearly a month with an injury, shot a six-over 78 which included a birdie 520-yard No. 2, to finish in a tie for 37th. Senior Patrick Bean (Fitchburg, MA) finished with a seven-over 79 to place tied for 49th. Bean shot birdies on the 14th (385 yards) and 18th holes (549).

Senior Brendan Livingston (Westford, MA) and junior Anthony Ullo (Leominster, MA) each placed in a tie for 67th with rounds of 81. Livingston birdied a pair of holes, including the par-3 180-yard 13th.

Gavin Smith of California (PA) earned day one medalist honors with a four-under 68.

UMass Lowell opens Tuesday’s round at 7:30 a.m.