CROFTON, Md. – With senior Doug Kulikowski (Pittsford, N.Y./Pittsford Sutherland HS),  sophomore Tommy Ethier (Nashua, N.H./Bishop Guertin HS) and senior Chris Simione (Cheshire, Conn./Cheshire HS) all in the top five, the Bentley University Falcons finished the first two rounds of the California University of Pennsylvania's Crofton Invitational atop the team standings Monday at the Crofton Country Club.

When the final round gets underway Tuesday, the East Region's fourth-ranked Division II team will have an eight-stroke lead over second-place and Atlantic Region number two Indiana (Pa.). Coach Mickey Herron's Falcons, coming off a win in its own Newport Classic, put up a 302-296-598 Monday. Indiana (Pa.) finished the opening 36 holes at 606 and West Chester University was third with a 607. A total of nine teams are competing in the tournament.

Kulikowski, coming off a winning 67 at Newport, is in second place with his 72-74-146 putting him a stroke back of IUP's Matt Cocorikis. He achieved five birdies on his opening round, including four in succession at home point.

Ethier matched the second-round's best score with a two-under 70 and is in third place, a stroke back of his teammate, with a 77-70-147.

Simione also had a solid two rounds and finished the day in fifth place with a 75-74-149. Sophomore Ellis Yoder (Fort Wayne, Ind./Homestead HS) turned in back-to-back 78's and is tied for 17th place.