Bentley Captures Northeast-10 Conference Championship; Powers & Kirkpatrick Tie for 2nd
BOYLSTON, Mass. – With senior Richie Powers (Leominster/Leominster HS) and sophomore Harry Kirkpatrick (Lancaster/Nashoba Reg. HS) leading the way, Bentley University captured the 2011 Northeast-10 Conference Golf Championships, which concluded Monday at the Cyprian Keyes Golf Club.
Bentley, with a two-day total of 609, captured the title by six strokes over day one leader Franklin Pierce University, and finished eight in front of two-time defending champion Adelphi University. The championship was the Falcons' first since 2007, their third in the last six years and their fourth overall, which is the most of any current NE-10 member.
By virtue of winning the title, Bentley earned the conference's automatic berth to the NCAA Division II East/Atlantic Super Regional, which will be held in May.
Powers and Kirkpatrick both had outstanding tournaments with each posting a six-over 150 for 36 hours. Powers turned in back-to-back 75s, and Kirkpatrick had a 74 Monday, matching his collegiate best, after an opening round 76. Powers had a tournament-best 25 pars during the tournament
Junior Matt Michel (Danvers/Danvers HS) also cracked the top ten, tying for eighth place with 75-78-153. Senior Nick Clarke (Plymouth/Cape Cod Academy) completed Bentley's top four, tying for 13th with a pair of 78s. He was tied for the tournament's best par-five average, 4.63.
Powers, Kirkpatrick and Michel were all accorded first-team All-Conference honors, and Bentley's second-year head coach Mickey Herron was recognized as the NE-10 Coach of the Year.
Medalist honors went to Adelphi freshman Louis Kelly, who shot a blistering 70 on Sunday and finished with a 145, besting Powers, Kirkpatrick and Saint Anselm's Nicholas Maccarino by five strokes.
Bentley is right back in action on Tuesday, playing in the Assumption College Shootout at Pleasant Valley Country Club.
At Cyprian Keyes GC, Boylston
Final
Top Individuals: 1. Lovis Kelly, Adelphi, 70-75-145; 2. Richie Powers, Bentley, 75-75-150; 2. Harry Kirkpatrick, Bentley, 76-74-150; 2. Nicholas Maccario, Saint Anselm, 78-72-150; 5. William Powers, Franklin Pierce, 74-77-151; 5. Kevin Daniels, AIC, 74-77-151.
Other Bentley Scores: t-8. Matt Michel 75-78-153; t-13. Nick Clarke 78-78-156; t-28. Dan McQueen 83-78-161.