PORTLAND, Maine – Sophomore Taylor Miller shot a four-over 76 to lead the men and senior Madison Mousley recorded a career-best 82 to power the women as both Keene State College golf programs competed at the University of Southern Maine Invitationals at the Riverside Golf Course on Sunday.

Coming off the first under-par and best round in program history on Tuesday at home, Miller once again paced the Owls in scoring, using an even par 36 on the front nine that included a pair of birdies to spur his round.  He finished with three birdies overall – on No. 1, No. 8, and No. 14 – to shoot a sub-80 round for the ninth time in 14 collegiate outings.  The Stoddard native would have threatened his career-best round from the other day and the top of the leaderboard if it were not for three straight bogeys early on the back nine, eventually leaving him in a tie for 12th.

KSC otherwise brought three freshmen to their final official action before the Little East Conference championship begins in nine days, with Benjamin Peters shooting a 78 that included a pair of birdies on the front nine and eight pars in nine holes after the turn.  Outside of a triple bogey on the par four second hole, the Owl rookie was plus-3 for the remainder of his round on the other 17 holes.  Cole Madden added a round of 10 pars while finishing with an 81, as did Ben Fecteau (nine pars, one birdie) and Braeden Dion (nine pars).

The Owls had seven birdies as a team and finished with a team score of 316 to tie for fifth with Vermont State University Castleton, ten strokes behind Colby (306).  Husson University won the event with an impressive score of 290 from their top four including individual co-medalist Ty Dickson, who shot a three-under 69.  Will Farschon of the University of Southern Maine, on the team's "A" entrant, matched him even though their "B" team edged them by one stroke (297-298).  Husson's scorers ranged from 69 to 75, including an even par round from their No. 2 Juan Hernandez, while USM "B" had a 71, 73, 74, and 79.

The tournament field of 10 team entrants combined to par near half of the holes total on the day (449; 48 percent).

"We did a god job, but we need to figure out how to eliminate some high (hole) scores," said Keene State head coach Jeff Timmer.  "If we can do that, we will be great."

Also on the north course, the KSC women battled to a second place finish among four teams (one who played with three golfers and was non-scoring).  Mousley and Southern Maine's Remy Levin battled for the individual title all day, with Levin's par on No. 5 and birdie on No. 8 ultimately proving to be the two-stroke difference.  Even still, the 82 (40 on front nine, 42 on back nine) is a career-best for Mousley, with her having parred nine holes on the day.

Sadie Murray had a strong back nine that included two birdies in three holes (No. 15, No. 17) to make up ground as she finished with a 90, while Abby Weiterman carded a 93 and Mackenzie Hagearty (par on each of the final two holes) a 98.

Keene State finished with a 363 as a team, 13 strokes behind team champion University of New England who shot a 350 fueled by an 86 from No. 2 Abby Flanagan and an 88 from No. 3 Danielle DeJon.

"It was a good day for the women too…we need to get a little more consistent and we will be fine," added Timmer.  "It was a great round from Madi today."

Despite Levin's individual crown, the Owls outdistanced the Huskies – a competitor in the LEC – by 16 strokes.

The women have three more events before the conference championship, including Wednesday (October 7) at the Rhode Island College Invitational at the Valley Country Club in Warwick, R.I.
The Owl men will travel to Groton, Conn. and the Shennecossett Golf Course from October 12-14 for the Little East championship, with the practice rounds slated for Monday, October 12.  The tee times on Tuesday, October 13 begin at 12:00 p.m. before a 10:00 a.m. start on Wednesday.  On day one, KSC will pair up in groups with Southern Maine and Eastern Connecticut State University as the top three teams from last year's championship begin together.  Vermont State University Castleton, Western Connecticut State University, and RIC will have earlier tee times on the first day.