HERSHEY,  Pa. -- Tuesday was a much better day for the Bentley University golf team at the NCAA Division II East/Atlantic Regional, with the Falcons shooting the day's 11th best score and climbing five places to 14th in the team standings.

Bentley, with a score of 616 after recording a second-round 303, will enter Wednesday's round ten strokes out of the top ten. That's also the lead that tourney leader St. Thomas Aquinas College owns over second-place Indiana University (Pa.), 573-583.

Junior Nick Clarke (Plymouth, Mass./Cape Cod Academy) had Bentley's best second-day score, a two-over 74 on the 6,837-yard course. The Northeast-10 Rookie of the Year returned to form after hurting his shoulder on the back nine Monday and struggling to an opening round 83. He is currently tied for 79th at 157, as is Falcon senior captain Alex Macielak (Saratoga Springs, N.Y./Saratoga Springs HS).

Junior Richie Powers (Leominster, Mass./Leominster HS) and sophomore Matt Michel (Danvers, Mass./Danvers HS) both turned in second-round 75s for Bentley. It was the second straight three-over score for Powers, who moved into a tie for 36th at 150. Michel is tied for 47th at 77-75-152.

Bentley totaled 11 birdies during the tournament's second day, including four by Clarke and three by Michel.

Drew Deimel of Clarion, Chris Fitzpatrick of St. Thomas Aquinas and American International's Kent Graham will enter the final round tied for first place, all with four-under 140s.

Bentley, currently second among the regional's four Northeast-10 participant, will start teeing off at 8:20 am Wednesday.          

NCAA DIV. II EAST/ATLANTIC REGIONAL

At The Hershey Links, Hershey, Pa.

Day 2 of 3

Team Scoring: 1. St. Thomas Aquinas 280-293-573; 2. Indiana (Pa.) 288-295-583; 3. Concord 302-287-589, 4. Wilmington (Del.) 300-291-591, 4. Clarion 291-300-591; 6. American International 297-296-593, 7. West Chester 299-300-599, 8. Charleston 299-301-600, 9. California (Pa.) 303-299-602, 10. Post 292-314-606, 11. Goldey-Beacom 306-306-612, 11. Dowling 304-308-612, 13. Bluefield State 311-303-614, 14. Bentley 313-303-616; 15. Adelphi 310-308-618, 16. Mercyhurst 320-299-619; 17. Le Moyne 307-313-620; 18. West Liberty 309-314-623, 19. Concordia (N.Y.) 310-315-625, 20. Virginia State 309-321-630.

Top Individuals: 1. Drew Deimel, Clarion, 71-69-140; 1. Chris Fitzpatrick, St. Thomas Aquinas, 68-72-140; 1. Kent Graham, AIC, 70-70-140; 4. Jared Schmader, Clarion, 67-74-141; 5. John Cole, Fayetteville State, 71-71-142.

Bentley Scores: t-36. Richie Powers, 75-75-150; t-57. Matt Michel, 77-75-152; t-79. Alex Macielak, 78-79-157; t-79. Nick Clarke, 83-74-157; t-100. Terrence Tedeschi, 84-81-165.