MYRTLE BEACH, SC -- The University of Delaware golf team opened its spring season with a strong showing this past weekend as the Blue Hens tied for third place in the team standings at the Fairfield Spring Invitational hosted by Fairfield University at the Crown Park Golf Club.

The Blue Hens, who were in second place after Friday’s round, posted a team score of 314 on Friday and 327 on Saturday to finish at 641, tied with Concord University for third place and trailing only team champion Siena (625) and runner-up and host Fairfield (633).

Sophomore Tommy Ellison (at right) led the Blue Hens as placed tied for sixth in the individual rankings with a score of 156 after shooting a one over-par 73 on Friday and an 83 Saturday. His 73 on Friday was the second lowest score behind only eventual winner Bryan Bigley of Siena, who won the individual title with a score of 72-75=147. Ellison’s sixth place finish was the best of his career at Delaware.

Bigley was one of two Siena players to finish in the top 10 as Dennis Gosier was tied for fourth at 77-78=155. Fairfield’s Dan Quatrocelli (76-78=154) and Concord’s Darcy Donaldson (77-77=154) tied for second.

Delaware’s Jason Bernstein finished 14th at 79-81=160 while Joe McLister was 18th (80-82=162) and Britt Murdoch (82-84=166) and Josh Williamowsky (85-81=166) tied for 38th.

Canisius was fifth in the team standings followed by Bryant, Long Island-Brooklyn, St. Anselm, Wilmington College, Hofstra, UMass-Lowell, La Salle, Manhattan, and North Carolina Wesleyan in the 14-team field. The two-day, 36-hole tournament was played on the 6,502-yard, par 72 Crown Park Golf Course.

The Blue Hens will return to action March 24-25 to take part in the George Washington Invitational at Bear Trap Dunes Golf Course in Bethany Beach, DE.

AGATE:

Final Team Standings: 1. Siena, 625; 2. Fairfield, 633; 3. Delaware & Concord, 641; 5. Canisius, 642; 6. Bryant, 646; 7. Long Island-Brooklyn, 649; 8. St. Anselm, 652; 9. Wilmington College, 669; 10. Hofstra, 670; 11. UMass-Lowell, 671; 12. La Salle, 672; 13. Manhattan, 673; 14. North Carolina Wesleyan, 716.

Top 10 Individuals: 1. Bryan Bigley (Siena), 72-75=147; 2. Dan Quatrocelli (Fairfield), 76-78=154, Darcy Donaldson (Concord), 77-77=154; 4. Dennis Gosier (Siena), 7778=155, William Onstott (Fairfield), 77-78=155; 6. Tommy Ellison (Delaware), 73-83=156, Liam Knott (Canisius), 75-81=156; 8. Jason Thresher (Bryant), 77-80=157, Sean Mullane (St. Anselm), 78-79=157; 10. R. J. Zielinski (Fairfield), 80-78=158.

Delaware Competitors: 6. Tommy Ellison, 73-83=156; 14. Jason Bernstein, 79-81=160; 18. Joe McLister, 80-82=162; 38. Britt Murdoch, 82-84=166; 38. Josh Williamowsky, 85-81=166

Complete Results