HERSHEY, Pa. -- The Bentley University golf team finished 17th in a field of 20 at the NCAA Division II East/Atlantic Regional Tournament, which concluded Wednesday at The Hershey Links.

The Falcons struggled to a final round 330 after beginning the third day of play in 14th place. Bentley's three-day total was 946.They opened the tourney with a 313 and had their best day on Tuesday, with a 303.

Sophomore Matt Michel (Danvers, Mass./Danvers HS) and junior Richie Powers (Leominster/ Leominster HS) were Bentley's top golfers for the tournament, tying for 43rd place out of 108 golfers with a 54-hole score of 230. They tied for seventh among golfers from Northeast-10 Conference institutions.

Michel had a final round 78, best among the Bentley quintet, and Powers finished with an 80 after opening the tournament with back-to-back 75s.

St. Thomas Aquinas College captured the team championship by ten strokes with a seven-over-par 71, and was one of five teams to advance to the NCAA Division II Championships, which will be held at the Shoals in Alabama May 16-20. The list of qualifiers included American International College, which was fifth with an 896.

Clarion University's Jared Schmader earned medalist honors with a four-under 212. Chris Fitzpatrick (St. Thomas Aquinas) and Andreas Reideborn (Concord) both finished a stroke back.

NCAA DIV. II EAST/ATLANTIC REGIONAL

At The Hershey Links, Hershey, Pa.

Final

Team Scoring: 1. St. Thomas Aquinas 280-293-298-871; 2. Indiana (Pa.) 288-295-298-881; 3. Wilmington (Del.) 300-291-299-890, 4. Concord 302-287-303-892, 5. American International 297-296-303-896, 6. Clarion 291-300-306-897; 7. Charleston 299-301-309-909, 8. Post 292-314-305-911, 9. West Chester 299-300-314-913, 10. California (Pa.) 303-299-319-921, 11. Dowling 304-308-313-925, 12. West Liberty 309-314-315-938, 13. Le Moyne 307-313-319-939, 13. Mercyhurst 320-299-320-939, 13. Bluefield State 311-303-325-939, 16. Goldey-Beacom 306-306-331-943, 17. Bentley 313-303-330-946; 18. Adelphi 310-308-332-950, 19. Concordia (N.Y.) 310-315-328-953, 20. Virginia State 309-321-324-954.

Top Individuals: 1. Jared Schmader, Clarion, 67-74-71-212; 2. Chris Fitzpatrick, St. Thomas Aquinas, 68-72-73-213; 2. Andreas Reideborn, Concord, 71-69-75-219; 4. Drew Deimel, Clarion, 71-69-75-215; 5. Brad Boyle, Indiana (Pa.), 71-74-71-216.

Bentley Scores: t-43. Richie Powers, 75-75-80-230; t-43. Matt Michel, 77-75-78-230; 89. Nick Clarke, 83-74-84-241; t-93. Alex Macielak, 78-79-88-245; 104. Terrence Tedeschi, 84-81-92-257.