May 4, 2010

Junior Thomas Ayala (East Taunton, MA) and sophomore Brandon Robinson (Hampstead, NH) sit in a tie for 30th place as the UMass Lowell golf team dropped one place to a tie for 10th Tuesday at the NCAA Tournament East-Atlantic Super Regional at the Glades Spring Resort.

UMass Lowell currently has a combined score of 631 entering Wednesday’s final round and is currently tied with Virginia State. Host Concord University remained on top with a 594 while Indiana (PA) is currently second with a 602 and American International College third with a 615.

Ohio Valley College (617), Bluefield State (618, including a field-low 304 Tuesday) and Clarion (PA) (618) rounded out the top five.

“We were neck and neck with Bluefield State and the last three holes we gave up about 12 strokes, including six on the 18th,” said UML Head Coach Gary Mucica. “At this point it’s a real long shot for us to get within the top five. Realistically, we’re good enough to do it, but we’re showing well and holding our own.”

Ayala, who carded a 79 for the first round, led UMass Lowell Thursday with a 78, which included a birdie on the 425-yard first hole. Robinson, who shot a two-over 74 Monday, fell victim to three double bogeys and scored an 82 Tuesday.

Senior Patrick Bean (Fitchburg, MA) inched up to a tie for 45th as he scored an 80 – peaking with a birdie on 520-yard hole two – following Monday’s 79. Junior Anthony Ullo (Leominster, MA) improved to a tie for 61st as he scored an 80, highlighted by a birdie on hole one, one stroke better than Monday’s 81.

Senior Brendan Livingston (Westford, MA) slipped to a tie for 68th, repeating with an 81 Tuesday. Livingston birdied three holes on the front nine, but double bogeyed five times.

“If we shot 300 tomorrow, it wouldn’t shock me,” Mucica said. “We could do it. But we’re making a lot of little mistakes that are eating us alive. It’s frustrating because I know we’re good enough to be in the top five.”

Indiana’s Gavin Smith maintained the individual lead with a 73, following Monday’s 68 (141, -3) and remains one stroke ahead of AIC’s Garrett Beyor (71-71—142, -4).

UMass Lowell opens Wednesday’s round at 12:00.