Team Standings | Individual Results

MILFORD, Conn. - A second-round surge has Rhode Island leading the Sacred Heart Fall Classic by three strokes heading into Tuesday's final round.

Trailing by four strokes after the opening round, the Rams were 6-under par as a team in the second round. Sophomore Luke Stennett (5-under par) and junior Tony Liu (1-under par) were both under par in the second round of the tournament, while junior Josiah Tong, sophomore Tyler Bruneau and senior Aidan O'Donovan all shot even par in the second round.

The strong round from URI's top five gave Rhode Island a seven-stroke swing in the standings. The Rams went four strokes behind host Sacred Heart after Round One to a three-stroke lead after two rounds.

"Before the round I told the team that we would not leave the property as what everyone else thought was the most talented team; we would leave as what everyone thought was the toughest and most focused team," Rhode Island head coach Gregg Burke said. "Certainly the first 18 showed little of that, but we had a nice afternoon. We played the final six holes on the back in 11 under, which was terrific, but we gave away too much on other holes. We were nine over on the fourth hole alone for the day. We just can't have that."

Spurred by an electric 5-under 67 in Round Two, Stennett leads the 80-player field. Over the course of two rounds, he had two eagles and eight birdies, putting him ahead of Sacred Heart's Pablo Lacayo by one stroke with 18 holes to play.

The Rams had five players among the top 15 in the opening round. Stennett fired a 3-under par 69. Tong had five birdies in the morning round, three of which came in a five-hole span from holes 13-17. O'Donovan, Liu and Bruneau were all part of an eight-player group tied for 15th place. They each were 2-over par in the first round.

"We got a great day from Luke but we knew it from the pre-tournament round when his preparation was spectacular," Burke said. "Josiah had some difficult holes, but you can never count him out. Aside from a couple swings, Tony was back to his old self. Tyler probably hit it as well as anyone but missed at least 10 putts inside 8 feet. Aidan saved his best for last when he birdied three of the final four holes.

"Anything that was not a red number was not a good round for us and we need to tidy that up in a hurry if we want to win tomorrow."

Sacred Heart Fall Classic
Team Standings - Through Two Rounds
1. Rhode Island - 288-282=570
2. Sacred Heart - 284-289=573
3. Fairfield - 297-280=577
4. New Haven - 303-290=593
T5. Assumption - 303-298=601
T5. Manhattan - 299-302=601
7. Hofstra - 300-306=606
8. Southern New Hampshire - 307-302=609
9. Providence - 303-309=612
10. Sacred Heart B  - 312-304=616
11. Saint Peter's - 310-307=617
12. Post - 319-302=621
13. Merrimack - 304-318=622