SOUTHPORT, N.C. – After beginning the second round of play in second place, the Bentley University golf team placed seventh out of 16 teams in the season-opening St. James Plantation Invtiational, which concluded Sunday at the Founders Club.

Bentley, after a opening day 296, struggled to a 318 second-round score and finished the tournament at 614. That was the best amongst the five participating Northeast-10 teams and second best among seven from East Region institutions.

Bentley's top golfer for the tournament was junior Dan McQueen (Topsfield, Mass./ Masconomet Reg. HS), who tied for seventh place with a 146. He fired a three-under 69 Saturday, the best by a Falcon in nearly a decade, and turned in a second-round 77.

That 77 was one of three posted by Falcon golfers on Sunday with seniors Richie Powers (Leominster, Mass./Leominster HS) and Grant Alter (Rancho Sante Fe, Calif./La Jolla Country Day) having the others. Powers tied for 23rd (76-77-153) and Alter tied for 40th (79-77-156). In between those two was junior Matt Michel (Danvers, Mass./Danvers HS), in a tie for 27th at 74-80-154.

California University of Pennsylvania claimed the team championship by one stroke over Indiana University of Pennsylvania, 592-593. The medalist was UMass-Lowell's Sylvain Debiais, who followed up on his opening round 71 with a 69 for four-under 140.Hewon the tournament by two strokes over Paul Babashanian of California (Pa.) and Zack Kempa of Indiana (Pa.).

Bentley's next action is at the end of the month, the Peter King Memorial in Riverhead, N.Y.

ST. JAMES PLANATION INVITATIONAL

Final

At The Founders Club, Southport, N.C.

Team Standings: 1. California (Pa.) 294-298-592, 2. Indiana (Pa.) 298-295-593; 3. St. Thomas Aquinas 297-303-600, 4. Concord 305-304-509, 5. Millersville 301-310-611, 6. Charleston (W.V.) 310-303-613, 7. Bentley 296-318-614, 8. American International 322-301-623, 9. Virginia State 310-315-625, 10. West Chester 313-315-628, 10. Clarion 317-311-628, 12. UMass-Lowell 312-317-629, 13. Goldey-Beacom 328-307-635, 14. Winston-Salem 329-312-641, 15. Adelphi 338-310-648, 16. Assumption 333-339-672.

Top Individuals:  1. Sylvain Debiais, UMass-Lowell, 71-69-140; 2. Paul Babashanian, Cal. U., 68-74-142; 2. Zach Kempa, Indiana (Pa.) 72-70-142; 4. Mike Gunderson, St. Thomas Aquinas, 71-72-143; 36-35-71; 5. Charlie Durman, Cal. U., 73-71-144.

Bentley Scores: t-7. Dan McQueen, 69-77-146; t-23. Richie Powers, 76-77-153; t-27. Matt Michel, 74-80-154; t-40. Grant Alter, 79-77-156; t-58. Nick Clarke, 77-84-161.