DRACUT, Mass. – With junior Matt Michel (Danvers/Danvers HS) firing the program's first 67 in nearly ten years, the Bentley University golf team grabbed the day one lead at the River Hawk Invitational, hosted by UMass-Lowell at the Meadow Creek Golf Club on Saturday.

Bentley, with a team score of 302, will begin Sunday's final round with a two-stroke lead over Franklin Pierce, a three-stroke advantage over Adelphi and five strokes in front of Pace University. A total of 13 teams are participating in the two-day tournament.

Michel's three-under 67 was the best for a Falcon golfer since Kurt Flionis fired a four-under 67 in the 2002 Northeast-10 Championships in September 2002. He had seven birdies on the day as he fired a 35 on the front and a three-under 32 on the back nine.  The 32 included a pair of three-putt bogies on the final two holes

His incredible back nine, which had him looking at a 29 before the late difficulties, saw him make a 12-foot putt on number 11, a 15-footer on 12, a six-footer on 13, and 12-footer on 15 and a 10-footer on 16, according to his coach, Mickey Herron.

Michel will enter Sunday's round with a six-stroke lead over a pair of Adelphi golfers, Aaron Burton and Frank Amizicia.

Bentley's number two man was junior Dan McQueen (Topsfield/Masconomet Reg. HS), who shot a 76 and is tied for 10th place.

UMASS-LOWELL RIVER HAWK INVITATIONAL

At Meadow Creek GC, Dracut

Day 1 of 2

Team Scores: 1. Bentley 302, 2. Franklin Pierce 304, 3. Adelphi 305, 4. Pace 307, 5. UMass Lowell 309, 6. American International 312, 6. Le Moyne 312, 8. UMass Lowell 'B' 315, 9. Assumption 320, 9. Boston University 320, 11. Saint Rose 322, 12. Southern New Hampshire 326, 13. Saint Anselm 347

Top Individuals: 1. Matt Michel, Bentley, 67; 2. Aaron Burton, Adelphi, 73; 2. Frank Amizicia, Adelphi, 73; 4. Matt Horton, Saint Rose, 74; 4. C.J. Konkowski, Franklin Pierce, 74; 4. Josh Mau, UMass Lowell 'B', 74; 4. Nathan Pereira, American International, 74; 4. Cole Childs, UMass Lowell 'A', 74.

Other Bentley Scores: Dan McQueen 76, Quincy Coulter 79, Andrew Campbell 80, Ryan Hudson 83.