BALDWINSVILLE, N.Y.  – The Bentley University golf team continued its push for an NCAA Division II regional berth by posting one of the most impressive performances in program history Sunday, grabbing the day-one lead in the Mike Bello Invitational at Timber Banks Golf Course with a sparking one-under 287.

With senior captain Matt Michel (Danvers, Mass./Danvers HS) leading the way, four of Bentley's five golfers shot 73 or better as the Falcons recorded their best one-day team score in at least a decade. The Falcons, ranked eighth in the NCAA Division II East Regional for the second straight week, hold a three-stroke lead over Concordia College (N.Y.) and 12 strokes over Nyack College.

Michel, two days after being named the Edward J. Powers Scholar Athlete award winner as Bentley's premier senior scholar-athlete, fired a season-best three-under-par 69 over the 6,739-yard course. That put him in third place, one stroke back of co-leaders Shane Dobesh of Roberts Wesleyan and Jeff Schaller of Concordia, who both carded a four-under 68.

Bentley also received an even-par 72 from senior Dan McQueen (Topsfield, Mass./ Masconomet Reg. HS) and one-over 73s from both freshman Malcolm Oliver (Damariscotta, Maine/ Lincoln Academy) and sophomore Jon Stoddard (Duxbury, Mass./Duxbury HS). McQueen will begin Monday's final round in sixth place and Oliver and Stoddard, who each posted their best round as collegians, are tied for seventh in the 17-team, 92-player field.

Bentley will be looking for its second straight team tournament title when play resumes at 9 am Monday. Earlier this month, the Falcons won the Peter King Memorial on Long Island.

Mike Bello Invitational
At Timber Banks Golf Course, Baldwinsville, N.Y.
Day 1 of 2

Team Standings: 1. Bentley 287, 2. Concordia 290, 3. Nyack 299, 4. Roberts Wesleyan 300, 5. Southern New Hampshire 304, 6. UMass-Lowell 305, 7. Le Moyne 310, 8. Daeman 314, 9. Assumption 317, 10. Keystone 322, 11. Dominican 323, 12. Franklin Pierce 327, 13. Felician 328, 14. Saint Rose 331, 15. Oswego 332, 16. Cobleskill 338, 17. Nazareth 347. 

Top Individuals: 1. Shane Dobesh, Roberts Wesleyan, 68; 1. Jeff Schaller, Concordia, 68; 3. Matt Michel, Bentley, 69; 4. Sylvain Debiais, UMass-Lowell, 70; 5. Sean Lawrence, Nyack, 71.

Other Bentley Scores: 6. Dan McQueen, 72; t-7. Malcolm Oliver, 73; t-7. Jon Stoddard, 73; t-54. Ryan Hudson, 82.