ENDICOTT, N.Y. – Led by sophomore Tommy Ethier (Nashua, N.H./Bishop Guertin HS) with a four-under 68, the Bentley University Falcons finished day one of the Northeast-10 Conference Men's Golf Championships in second place, two strokes back of Southern New Hampshire at the En-joie Golf Course.

Bentley, the defending champions, posted an even-par score of 288 while SNHU concluded the opening round at two under. Both clubs had three of the top 12 golfers.

Ethier matched his collegiate best and trails only Southern New Hampshire's Matt Paradis in the battle for medalist honors.

Bentley also received strong play from junior Robert Falconer (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley HS) and senior Chris Simione (Cheshire, Conn./Cheshire HS). Falconer will resume play in a tie for fifth after an even-par 72 and Simione is tied for eighth after carding a 83.

Also for the Falcons, sophomore Ellis Yoder (Fort Wayne, Ind./Homestead HS) shot a 75 and senior Doug Kulikowski (Pittsford, N.Y./Pittsford Sutherland HS) turned in a 76.

The tournament will conclude with second-round play on Monday.