KEENE, N.H. – Aidan Davis and Ace Chancey each shot a six-over 78 to lead the Keene State College men's golf team at the Keene State College Invitational held at the Keene Country Club on Friday.

Chancey shot a 37 on the front nine, finishing with a birdie on No. 2 and No. 4, while Davis finished with a 38 on the back nine holes as the pair were two of four people in a 12th place tie individually in a 45-golfer field.  Each were on one of KSC's two team entries, wearing white, while the second entry (wearing red) was led by a 79 from Justin Prim.  He parred 12 of the 18 holes and added a birdie on the Par 5 seventh in an impressive effort, with his score over par mostly all coming as a result of holes No. 12 and No. 14 (+5).  Davis birdied No. 5 and parred 10 of his final 12 holes on the day.

Matt Bryant, playing on the red entry, finished with an 80 (+8), while Jaxson Roenick playing with the first group had an 81.

KSC's crew was rounded out with an 84 from Sean McCaffrey (white), an 86 from Bradley Lehtonen (red), an 87 from Sean Bonneau (white), and 88s each from Ben Fecteau (red), and Colin O'Brien (red).

"We are playing much better, so the final step is believing in ourselves on the course and eliminating those really bad holes," said Owls head coach Jeff Timmer, who has coached the Little East Conference Rookie of the Year each of the past two seasons.  "I believe we can put it all together next week."

It acted as a practice round for KSC's 10 golfers, with the Little East championship on the docket next Tuesday through Thursday (October 1-3).  Practice rounds will be held on Tuesday followed by championship rounds in the ensuing two days.  KSC moved from a sixth-place finish in their inaugural season two years ago to post a second-place finish as a team in 2023, led by Bonneau.

Today, New England College took home the team title by scoring a combined 292.  Norwich University placed second with a 307 with Gordon right behind them two strokes back.  Emmanuel College (Mass.) and Western Connecticut State University finished in a fourth-place tie with a 320 each, followed by Keene State's first entry (white) with a 321.  The Owls' red entry and Vermont State University Castleton finished with 333's, and Elms College recorded a 358.

Cooper Bertrand of Norwich and Graham Hassan of New England College tied for the individual medal, each shooting a two-under 70.  Bertrand had six birdies, and won a playoff hole (No. 1) by chipping in for eagle after Hassan had a mid-length put for a birdie.  Bertrand was two shots better on the front nine with four birdies, but Hassan got those back and was ahead by a stroke entering the 18th hole before Bertrand birdies and he parred to force a playoff.

KSC was the defending champion of the event, winning last September on a rainy and sloppy day with a 328 as a team, winning by two strokes.  Bonneau was the individual winner with a 76.  Hassan shot a 79.

Tee times for the two championship rounds of the LEC championship next week will begin at 9:00 a.m., with KSC to be paired in groups with Eastern Connecticut State University (1st place in 2023) and Vermont State Castleton (3rd in 2023).