CONCORD, N.H. – Back-to-back sub-par rounds by Zach Stewart (Duxbury, Mass./Pembroke HS) put the Bentley University sophomore in a tie for first after the first day of the Southern New Hampshire University Penmen Invitational Monday at the Concord Country Club.

Thirty-six holes were played Monday and Stewart posted a three-under par 69-68-137. That matched Bill Koch of Post University, who turned in a 71-66-137.

The final round of the 54-hole tournament will be played Tuesday with action getting underway at 9 am.

Junior Timothy Picard (Dracut, Mass./Lowell Catholic HS) was also impressive for the Falcons with his 70-71-141 good for a tie for fifth in the  81-player field.

The performance of Stewart and Picard helped Bentley finish the day in third place with a score of 293-284-577. That was the best among Northeast-10 Conference teams and trailed only St. Thomas Aquinas (293-279-572) and Post (292-283-575). A total of 14 teams are competing.

Also scoring for the Falcons were junior Nelson Eaton (Groton, Vt./St. Johnsbury Acad.) and senior Aidan Stuart (Madison, Conn./Daniel Hand HS). Eaton finished the day tied for 39^th with a 77-72-149 and Stuart followed in a tie for 46^th with a 77-73-150.