KINGSTON, R.I. - Rhode Island sophomores Tyler Bruneau and Luke Stennett have entered the transfer portal.

Bruneau and Stennett have been regulars in the URI lineup for the last two seasons, helping the Rams make the National Golf Invitational in back-to-back years.

"Both Tyler and Luke have my full support as they pursue the next stage of their intercollegiate golf journey," Rhode Island head coach Gregg Burke said. "We will miss them as much for their contribution off the golf course as we will their contribution in tournaments. I'm especially proud of both of them for making the Dean's List this past semester for the first time.  Their growth and maturity have been a pleasure to be a part of.

"At the end of the day we could not satisfy needs they articulated that would fulfil their desire to pursue competitive golf as a profession in the future. That said, we currently have four graduates who are playing professional golf with one, Chris Francoeur, who is a regular on the Korn Ferry Tour at this point."

Rhode Island will return five golfers next season, including rising seniors Josiah Tong and Tony Liu. Both are three-year starters who have led URI to 10 team titles in 35 events.

"I've made it clear to the team that we are looking at the positives and we will only look forward to what we have and not anything we lost," Burke said. "In addition to the five current players, next year we welcome one of the top high school players in New England in Jack Quinn and the N.J. Junior of the Year in Mihir Roperia. Three players in the high school class of 2027 have individually announced their intention to come to URI as well.

"We have begun conversations with players in the transfer portal who reached out to us earlier and look forward to looking into the portal today when it opens again with what will be an almost overwhelming number of players looking for new homes."

With the open roster spots, the Rams will be able to bring in multiple experienced players.

"College golf roster management has become incredibly complicated and competitive with NCAA mandated roster limits that eliminated hundreds of Division I opportunities, while rewarding the top schools by allowing nine scholarships instead of the former maximum of 4.5," Burke said. "It is further complicated by the advent of the transfer portal and the discussion of the 5:5 rule that would extend eligibility to five years but with no clear plan that smooths the transition with the roster commitments we currently have. And that is all before the NIL where some college golfers are earning seven-figure incomes.

"While adjusting to these new realities in collegiate golf, we've won nine tournaments and played in the post-season each of the past two years. We've established ourselves as the best program in New England and one of the top five or six of eastern schools north of Virginia. This year alone we beat Penn State, Iowa, Michigan twice, and Ohio State. And, maybe best of all, in a few weeks we will honor our 38th All-American Scholar in the past 12 years.

"The program and its athletic and academic success speaks for itself and is a tribute to our donors and the great men who built the platform for this team to enjoy the fruits of their hard work."