Hawerchuk Opens NEC Championships with Field-Best 68, Blue Devils Sit in Sixth Place Tie

Central Connecticut sophomore Eric Hawerchuk shot a four-under par 68 on the International Course at the ChampionsGate Golf Club to earn a share of the opening round lead in the Northeast Conference Championships. Hawerchuk shot 36-32 on the par 72, 6,937 yard course in ChampionsGate, FL. As a team, CCSU is tied for sixth. The Blue Devils recorded a 306 total. They are 14 strokes off the pace set by Long Island (292), which got 70s from senior Greg Nichoson and sophomore Rocky Co. Defending champion Sacred Heart (295) is three shots behind the Blackbirds.

Freshman Tucker Dooley carded the second lowest round for Central Connecticut. He shot 39-37 and is tied for 19th. Senior Tim Buczak, a two-time All-NEC performer, posted a 79, and sophomore Sam Pelletier shot 83. Sophomore Tom Ursa rounded out the Blue Devil field. He recorded an 86.

Robert Morris sophomore C.G. Mercatoris is tied with Hawerchuk at 68. The Colonials are tied with Central Connecticut in sixth. St. Francis (PA) is in third at 299. Monmouth (302) and Mount St. Mary's (305) complete the top-five. Sacred Heart freshman Leo Garcia, SFPA junior Mike Magalski and Monmouth sophomore Greg Etimos are one shot behind Hawerchuk and Mercatoris. Fairleigh Dickinson, Quinnipiac, Wagner and St. Francis (NY) round out the team standings. FDU shot 313, 10 shots better than Quinnipiac. Wagner came in at 337, while SFNY posted a 341.

Hawerchuk's 68 was his lowest round of the spring season. It was one stroke off his career low.

Round two of the 54-hole, three-day event will begin tomorrow morning.