April 8, 2005

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CENTER VALLEY, Pa. (www.lafayette.edu) - Ryan Mikita of Robert Morris aced the par-3, 153-yard 13th hole on his way to a 71 and a share of the first-day lead at the Fourth Annual Lafayette Invitational, held at Center Valley Golf Club. The course played with a par of 70 on Friday.

American, paced by co-leader Alex Wenzel and Kevin Horan, who shot a 72, holds the team lead with a 297. Defending champion Binghamton and St. Bonaventure are tied for second at 301, with Niagara (302), Siena (303) and Bucknell (304) rounding out the top six on a highly-competitive leaderboard.

The Lafayette (White) team recorded an opening round of 317 to place 15th in the field of 23 squads. Jeremiah O'Neill and Garett Copp both shot 78 for the Leopards.

Phil Arouca (La Salle), Jeff Wolniewicz (Binghamton), Bryan Bigley (Siena) and Horan (American) are all one shot off the pace. Wenzel had a 40 on the front nine but recorded a course-best 31 on the par-34 back nine to equal Mikita, who shot a 36-35.

Matt Kleinrock of Fairleigh Dickinson posted a 34 on the par-36 front nine and is tied with Robby Bigley of Siena at three-over par.

The final round will begin with an 8 a.m. shotgun start on Saturday.