NEW LONDON, N.H. – When the Northeast Challenge golf tournament resumes for the final round Sunday at the Lake Sunapee Golf Course, Bentley University will hold a two-stroke lead over Southern New Hampshire University in the battle for the team championship.

Led by senior Ryan Hudson (Purchase, N.Y./Iona Prep) and sophomore Sal Visali (West Barnstable/Barnstable HS), who both had career days, Bentley finished the opening 18 with a team score of 297. SNHU, which received a pair of 72's, is right on the Falcons' tail, and both American International College (303) and Assumption College (307) are both within ten strokes of the first-place Falcons.

Hudson was one of four players to shoot a two-over 72, and Visali followed with a 73. Sitting atop the leaderboard, following a two-under 68, is AIC's Austin Ball.

Bentley also had sophomore Zach Pollard (Lebanon, N.H./Lebanon HS) and junior Tom Freeman (Maywood, N.J./Bergen County Academies) turn in 76's. Rounding out the Falcons' top five was freshman John Perkins (Middleton, Mass./Phillips Andover), with a 79 in his collegiate debut.

A total of eight teams and 43 players are participating in the two-day tournament.

NORTHEAST CHALLENGE
At Lake Sunapee GC, New London, N.H.
Day 1 of 2

Team Scores: 1. Bentley 297, 2. Southern New Hampshire 299, 3. American International 303, 4. Assumption 307, 5. Saint Anselm 308, 6. Dowling 313, 6. Franklin Pierce 313, 8. Dominican 318.

Top Individuals: 1. Austin Ball, AIC, 68; 2. Ryan Hudson, Bentley, 72; 2. Austin Fox, Southern N.H., 72; 2. Ernie Lupi, Southern N.H., 72; 2. Joe Fitzsimmons, Saint Anselm, 72.

Other Bentley Scores: t-6. Sal Visali 76; t-13. Zach Pollard 76; t-13. Tom Freeman 76; t-25. John Perkins 79; t-29. Harry Kirkpatrick 80.