VILLANOVA, Pa. — Senior Brendan Cronin fired a 1-under-par 69 to highlight the Lafayette men's golf team during the first round of the Wildcat Invitational on Monday at Radnor Valley Country Club. 

Cronin's 69 featured a 3-under 32 on the front nine and it put him three shots off the lead heading into Tuesday's final round. The Sutton, Mass. native's low round, one of only four scores under par in the tournament so far, helped the Leopards finish in a tie for fifth place in the team standings after the first day with an 11-over-par 291.

Junior Kazuki Osawa followed Cronin with a 2-over 72, which put him in a tie for 18th. Senior Creighton Hendrix and juniors Ryan Tall and Drew Steiner each shot a 5-over 75 to end the day tied for 46th.

Sophomore Martin Vanhaelst rounded out the lineup for the Maroon and White, shooting an 81 to put him in a tie for 85th in the tournament.