Sept. 26, 2010

Junior Brandon Robinson (Hampstead, N.H.) carded rounds of 79 and 72 (151) to lead the UMass Lowell golf team to fifth place at the Dowling College September Shootout Friday and Saturday at Long Island National Golf Club.

The finish was UMass Lowell’s best of the fall season as nine of its 10 rounds were in the 70s. Only six strokes separated UMass Lowell’s five players.

The River Hawks collectively shot a 311 on Friday, but improved to a 304 Saturday for a score of 615. St. Thomas Aquinas won the tournament with a 285-301—586 while American International College (292-305—597) placed second, Wilmington (305-295—600) third and Le Moyne (305-303—608) fourth.

The Shootout drew 94 players representing 17 colleges.

Robinson’s one-over 72 on Saturday tied for second as the day’s best round as he placed in a tie for 17th. His finish also marked the second straight week he emerged the team leader.

Senior Anthony Ullo (Leominster, Mass.) shot a 79 for his first round but improved with a 75 Saturday for a 154, while graduate Patrick Bean (Fitchburg, MA) tied for 34th with a 76-79—155.

Freshman Steve Aghiarian (Medford, Mass.), making his collegiate debut, shot rounds of 79-78-157 to place in a tie for 39th alongside senior Thomas Ayala (East Taunton, Mass.) who shot a 77-80—157.

John Perrine of Wilmington earned medalist honors with a 143 – including a four-under 67 Saturday – after winning a playoff against Thomas Linehan of St. Thomas Aquinas (68-75—143.

UMass Lowell enters the Northeast-10 Conference Championship Saturday through Monday at the Enjoie Golf Club in Binghamton, N.Y.