WALTHAM, Mass. – Bentley University junior Matt Michel (Danvers/Danvers HS) has been named the Northeast-10 Golfer of the Week after his outstanding performance over the weekend in the UMass-Lowell River Hawk Invitational.

Playing at the Meadow Creek Golf Club in Dracut, Michel won the tournament by five strokes with his even-par 140 matching the best 36-hole score in the conference this season.

His three-under-par opening round 67, which included a 32 on the back nine and seven birdies, was the best by a Falcon golfer since Kurt Flionis posted a four-under 67 in the 2002 NE-10 Championships. The tournament victory was Michel's first as a collegian.

For the year, Michel leads the Falcons with a 75.2 stroke average. The 2011 Academic All-Northeast-10 honoree previously earned Golfer of the Week honors back in September for his performance in the Northeast Intercollegiate Golf Tournament.

Bentley's resume for the year as a team includes the Northeast-10 Championship, the New England Championship and a berth in next month's NCAA Division II East/Atlantic Super Regional.

In the latest Golfstat rankings for the NCAA Division II East Region, coach Mickey Herron's club is ranked fourth, behind Wilmington (Del.), Post University and St. Thomas Aquinas.

Three Bentley players are ranked in the top 30 in the east with Michel topping the list at number seven. Senior Richie Powers (Leominster/Leominster HS) is 18th and junior Dan McQueen (Topsfield/ Masconomet Reg. HS).