Oliver Becomes 1st Bentley Player to Capture New England Championship; Team Repeats as Div. II Champ
BREWSTER, Mass. – Junior Malcolm Oliver (Damariscotta, Maine/Lincoln Academy) became the first golfer in Bentley University history to earn medalist honors at the New England Intercollegiate Golf Association championships as he shot a one-under 143 during the two-day tournament that concluded on Monday at the Captains Golf Course.
Oliver turned in a second-round 73 after firing a two-under 70 on Sunday. He prevailed by four strokes over runner-up Matt Hills of Central Connecticut State, who turned in a 74-72-146. Among Division II players, he had a winning margin of eight strokes over Southern New Hampshire's Jake Nutter (77-74-151).
The championship was the second of the year for Oliver, who finished the fall with a sparkling 73.6 average. He opened the fall by winning the Joe Plante Invitational with a 74-71-145.
Oliver's effort helped Bentley repeat as NEIGA Division II champions and tie for third overall with a 300-308-608. Fairfield University claimed the overall title with a 300-301-601 and UMass-Lowell finished second, a stroke ahead of the Falcons. In the Division II standings, Southern New Hampshire was second, six strokes back of coach Mickey Herron's team.
Bentley had two players tie for fifth in the Division II results, senior Jon Stoddard (Duxbury/ Duxbury HS) and freshman Cal Meyers (Richfield, Wisc./Slinger HS). Stoddard turned in a 75-79-154 while Meyers had just the opposite, 79-75-154. Both joined Oliver on the Division II All-New England team and tied for 25th overall.
NEW ENGLAND INTERCOLLEGIATE GOLF ASSOCIATION CHAMPIONSHIPS
At The Captains Course, Brewster, Mass.
Final
Div. I Top Teams: 1. Fairfield 300-301-601, 2. UMass-Lowell 308-299-607; 3. Rhode Island 306-302-608; 4. Central Connecticut 309-303-612; 4. Holy Cross 312-300-612
Div. II Top Teams: 1. Bentley 300-308-608; 2. Southern New Hampshire 310-304-614; 3. Franklin Pierce 311-314-625; 3. American International 318-307-625; 5. Saint Rose 331-310-641
Div. III Top Teams: 1. Rhode Island College 316-299-615; 2. Babson 319-310-629; 3. Western New England 321-309-630; 4. Husson 313-324-637; 5. Elms 320-322-642
Top Individuals: 1. Malcolm Oliver, Bentley, 70-73-143; 2. Matt Hills, Central Conn, 74-72-146; 3. Austin Teal, Endicott, 74-73-147; 3. Harry Hulme, UMass-Lowell, 73-74-147; 5. Billy Walthouse IV, URI, 73-75-148; 5. Jamie Ferullo, Providence, 74-74-148
Other Bentley Scores: t-25. Cal Meyers, 79-75-154; t-25. Jon Stoddard, 75-79-154; t-73. Tommy Ayres, 80-81-161; t-92. Brett Chatfield, 76-87-163.