May 2, 2008

HERSHEY, Pa. (May 2, 2008) - Sacred Heart junior Patrick Fillian (Tinton Falls, NJ) shot an opening round 71 on Friday as the Pioneers completed the first day of the 2008 Northeast Conference Championships in fourth place overall, four strokes off the lead. Fillian's one under round leaves him in fifth place with Saturday and Sunday to go.

The Pioneers shot a team score of 297 (+9) over the first 18-holes of the championship tournament being held at the Hershey Links. The Pioneers trail Central Connecticut in first (+5), Robert Morris (+7) in second and Mount St. Mary's (+8) in third.

Fillian's sub par round was one of five shot on Friday afternoon as the Mount's Jeff Kingsbury leads the field after a -3 day. SHU sophomore Adam Petrasovic (Tecumseh, Ontario) was one stroke behind Fillian shooting even par (72) to tie for sixth overall in the field of 54 golfers.

Senior Tommy Campbell (Wall, NJ) and junior Kevin Lauretti (Newington, CT) both sit tied for 22nd after carding matching 77's. Junior Matt Belizze (North Salem, NY) is tied for 33rd after shootin 79.

The second round of the 2008 NEC Men's Golf Championships is scheduled for Saturday, May 3 beginning at 7:45 am. The final round is slated for Sunday, May 4.