Led by Runner-up Richardson, Monks Finish 4th at Maine Championship

Led by Runner-up Richardson, Monks Finish 4th at Maine Championship

CUMBERLAND, ME – Saint Joseph's College placed fourth with a 640 (321-319) team card in the 2012 Maine Intercollegiate Championship at Val Halla Golf Club over the weekend. Junior Kevin Richardson (Coventry, Conn.) finished the 36-hole event as the runner-up after shooting a 74 on both days.

For the Monks, the 640 score is the program's best since the team carded a 626 at the 2006 State Championship and 16 strokes better than last year's finish. The fourth-place effort is the Monks' best since 2007, when the Royal Blue finished as the runner-up with a 645 team card.

For Richardson, the 148 score is a 36-hole personal low - by six strokes – and ranks as the lowest card posted by an SJC linker in a 36-hole event since Joe Manganaro handed in the same card in the 2004 Husson College Invitational at the Penobscot Valley Country Club in Orono. Richardson's runner-up effort is the Monks' best in the State Tournament since Chris Deroche '08 collected medalist honors with a 149 card in the 2006 event.

University of Southern Maine claimed top team honors with a 595 (295-300) card, the best program score at states since the Maine Intercollegiate Championship adopted the 36-hole format in 2006. The Huskies' line-up featured five golfers with sub-160 scores, including junior Aiden Boyce (South Portland, Maine) who captured medalist honors with an even-par two-round total of 144 (72-72).

A pair of Boyce's teammates, Josh Hogan (Falmouth, Maine) and Sean Bergeron (Kennebunk, Maine), placed third and fourth with scores of 149 (72-77) and 150 (75-75), respectively. UNE's Jared Melman (San Jose, Calif.) rounded out the top five individuals with a 150 (75-75) card.

University of New England finished as the runner-up with a 616 (309-307) card while 2011 champion Husson University, winners of the Maine Championship in nine of the last 13 years, placed third with a 624 (307-317) score. Following Saint Joseph's was Bates (652), Maine-Maritime (655), Maine-Presque Isle (657), Colby (659), Maine-Farmington (659) and Bowdoin (666).

For the Monks, first-year golfer Sean Drake (Lebanon, N.H.) finished in 13th with a 155 (77-78) card, Jake Brown (Lewiston, Maine) shot a 165 (85-80), Ryan Berard (Millville, Mass.) carded a 172 (85-87), and Nick Zwald (Campton, N.H.) posted a 197 (99-98).

Saint Joseph's will next compete in the Southern Maine Cup at Sable Oaks Golf Course on Friday. Tee-time is set for 12:00 PM.