SUFFERN, N.Y. – With junior Jon Stoddard (Duxbury, Mass./Duxbury HS) and senior captain Harry Kirkpatrick (Lancaster, Mass./Nashoba Reg. HS) setting the pace, the Bentley University Falcons finished day one of the Dominican Charger Challenge first among nine teams. The tournament will conclude at the Spook Run Golf Course on Monday.

Bentley turned in a team score of 297, good for an eight-stroke lead over both St. Thomas Aquinas College and Concordia College (N.Y.). Le Moyne is alone in fourth place, 12 strokes off the pace, and no one else is within 19 strokes of first.

Stoddard, for the second straight tournament, fired an opening round 70, good for a three-stroke lead over both Kirkpatrick and Le Moyne's John Clare. The runner-up in last week's Northeast-10 Championships, he shot a blistering 33 over the back nine to match his collegiate career-best for 18.

Kirkpatrick finished with a 73, and the Falcons also received a strong showing from sophomore Jack Zierolf (Fairfield, Conn./Warde HS), who is tied for fourth following a 74. Both also tied their best round as a collegian.

DOMINICAN CHARGER CHALLENGE
At Spook Run GC, Suffern, N.Y.
Day 1 of 2

Team Scores: 1. Bentley 297, 2. St. Thomas Aquinas 305, 2. Concordia (N.Y.) 305, 4. Le Moyne 309, 5. Chestnut Hill 316, 6. Dominican (N.Y.) 321, 7. Saint Rose 327, 8. Nyack 329, 9. Felician 331.

Top Individuals: 1. Jon Stoddard, Bentley, 37-33-70; 2. Harry Kirkpatrick, Bentley, 37-36-73; 2. John Clare, Le Moyne, 37-36-73; 4. Sam Deitte, Concordia, 38-36-74; 4. Jack Zeirolf, Bentley, 36-38-74; 4. Thomas Linehan, St. Thomas Aquinas, 36-38-74.

Other Bentley Scores:  t-23. Tom Freeman, 42-38-80; t-45. Zach Pollard, 43-46-89.