ENDICOTT, N.Y. -- With junior and Northeast-10 Conference Rookie of the Year Nick Clarke (Plymouth, Mass./Cape Cod Academy) leading the way, the Bentley University golf team finished third in a 12-team field at the Mike Bello Invitational, hosted by Le Moyne College at the En-Joie Golf Club.

Bentley, which had been second entering Saturday's second and final day of competition, finished with a 619 after posting a 315 day two score. American International rallied to take the team title from Le Moyne, overcoming a nine-stroke deficit to prevail 605-606.

Clarke shot a second-round two-over-par 74 and finished in a tie for fifth place at 151. He was four strokes back of medalist Kent Graham (75-72-147) of AIC.

Next on the list for Bentley were senior Alex Macielak (Saratoga Springs, N.Y./Saratoga Springs HS) and junior Richie Powers (Leominster, Mass./Leominster HS), who tied for 11th in the 66-player field with 36-hole scores of 154. Macielak turned in a second-round 78 and Powers followed his opening round 75 with a 79.

Next weekend, Bentley will compete in the UMass-Lowell River Hawk Invitational at the Meadow Creek Golf Club in Dracut, Mass.

MIKE BELLO INVITATIONAL

At En-Joie Golf Club, Endicott, N.Y.

Final

Team Scores: 1. American International 308-297-605, 2. Le Moyne 299-307-606; 3. Bentley 304-315-619; 4. Saint Rose 313-312-625; 5. UMass-Lowell 316-312-628; 6. Delhi 314-324-638; 7. Pace 320-330-650; 8. Elmira 325-332-657; 9. Roberts Wesleyan 333-328-661; 10. Keystone 341-330-671; 11. Franklin Pierce 349-340-689; 12. SUNY Cobleskill 364-368-732.

Top Individuals: 1. Kent Graham, AIC, 75-72-17; 2. Matt Horton, Saint Rose, 76-73-149; 3. Josh Cook, Le Moyne, 75-75-150; 3. Craig Esposito, Le Moyne, 73-77-150; 5. Thomas Ayala, UMass-Lowell, 76-75-151; 5. Nick Clarke, Bentley, 77-74-151; 5. Ben Conger, Le Moyne, 75-76-151; 5. Kent St. Charles, Pace, 76-75-151.

Other Bentley Scores: t-11. Alex Macielak, 76-78-154; t-11. Richie Powers, 75-79-154; t-25. Nick Mini, 76-85-161; t-32. Grant Alter, 80-84-164.