PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. – Day one of the first-ever trip to Florida for the Bentley University golf team didn't go as well as expected as the Falcons struggled during two rounds of play in the Nova Southeastern University Shark Invitational at the PGA National Golf Club. The tournament concludes with the third round on Tuesday.

Competing in a tournament that featured five nationally-ranked teams, the Northeast-10 Conference champions had their two poorest rounds of the season, a 340 and a 330, and finished Monday's portion of the tourney 14th in a 14-team field, 38 strokes back of number 13 Post University (Conn.).

The highlight for Bentley was turned in by senior co-captain Richie Powers (Leominster, Mass./Leominster HS). He rebounded from an opening 84 to shoot a 74 during the afternoon. His 158 total placed him in a tie for 55th in a field of 75.

Bentley's second-best round of the day was an 82 by junior Matt Michel (Danvers, Mass./Danvers HS) on the second 18 after he was disqualified during the opening 18.

Barry University will enter Tuesday's final round with a ten-stroke lead over Lynn University, 574-584, in the battle for team honors. The individual leader in the clubhouse is Jordan Meltzer, of Florida's Johnson and Wales University. He finished the day at five-under with a 70-69-139.