BREWSTER, Mass. -- With juniors Nick Clarke (Plymouth/Cape Cod Academy) and Richie Powers (Leominster/Leominster HS) leading the way, the Bentley University Falcons recorded their second best finish of the last 12 years in the 76th annual New England Intercollegiate Golf Association Championships, which concluded Tuesday at the Captains Golf Course.

Bentley finished 13th in the 37-team field, a performance bettered only by the 2006 team's 12th-place showing. The Falcons, who followed a first-day 317 with a 308 for a 625 total, placed fourth among Division II teams, trailing only Saint Anselm (617), American International (618) and Post University (622).

Clarke and Powers both tied for 38th overall and missed earning Division II All-New England honors by just a single stroke. Clarke fired a two-over second-round 74 after opening with an 81, and Powers followed a 76 with a 79. Senior captain Alex Macielak (Saratoga Springs, N.Y./Saratoga Springs HS) was Bentley's number three man, tying for 50th place with 80-77-157.

The University of Rhode Island captured the team championship for the 11th time in 13 years, with a two-day score of 585 edging the University of Connecticut by just a single stroke.

Medalist for the tournament was Adam Vaccari of UConn, who defeated Kevin Josephson of Central Connecticut on the second playoff hole. Both had a 36-hole score of 143.

Bentley will finish its fall season at the Concordia College Fall Faceoff in New York on Oct. 25.

NEW ENGLAND INTERCOLLEGIATE GOLF ASSOCIATION CHAMPIONSHIPS

At Captains Golf Course, Brewster

Final

Team Standings: 1. Rhode Island 297-288-585; 2. Connecticut 300-286-586; 3. Central Connecticut 300-293-593; 4. Holy Cross 302-296-598; 5. Bryant 313-298-611; 6. Husson 308-305-613; 7. Saint Anselm 317-300-617; 7. Fairfield 316-301-617; 9. American International 303-315-618; 10. Post 315-307-622; 11. Salem State 311-313-624; 11. Trinity 309-315-624; 13. Bentley 317-308-625; 14. Babson 313-317-630; 15. UMass-Lowell 325-309-634; 16. Castleton State 315-323-638; 17. Worcester State 327-315-642; 18. Johnson & Wales 314-330-644; 18. Springfield 324-320-644; 20. UMass-Dartmouth 322-323-645; 21. Providence 328-319-647; 22. Assumption 328-320-648; 23. Franklin Pierce 326-326-652; 24. St. Michael's 333-321-654; 24. Massachusetts Coll. 336-318-656; 26. Rhode Island College 334-325-659; 27. Western New England 340-322-662; 27. Nichols 321-341-662; 29. Southern New Hampshire 340-325-665; 30. Tufts 336-330-666; 30. Brandeis 329-337-666; 32. Endicott 336-331-667; 33. St. Joseph's, Maine 353-338-691; 34. Southern Maine 359-337-696; 35. Bates 348-355-703; 36. Suffolk 372-350-722; 37. Wentworth 390-379-769.

Top Individuals: 1. Adam Vaccari, UConn, 75-68-143; 2. Kevin Josephson, Central Conn, 72-71-143; 3. Colin Andrade, Holy Cross, 72-72-144; 3. John Kelly, URI, 71-73-144; 5. Jeb Buchanan, UConn, 77-68-145; 5. Taylor Fontaine, URI, 75-70-145.

Bentley Scores: t-38. Nick Clarke 81-74-155; t-38. Richie Powers, 76-79-155; t-50. Alex Macielak, 80-77-157; t-60. Matt Michel 80-78-158; t-127. Nick Mini, 87-82-169.