Sutton, MA --- Salem State senior Nick Zolotas (Peabody, MA) fired a 66 (-6) to capture individual medalist honors and help lead the Vikings to a first place finish at the Worcester State Invitational held at the Par 72 Blackstone National Golf Course this afternoon.  Salem State combined to shoot +24 (312) to capture their second consecutive tournament title. 

Salem State was followed by Western New England who took home second with a team card of 326 (+38) and Rhode Island College was just one stroke behind at 327 (+39).  Endicott placed in fourth with a team score of 332 (+44) while Elms (335; +47) and Anna Maria (336; +48) finished in fifth and sixth place, respectively. 

Zolotas' round of 66 was three strokes off the course record of 63 as he was -4 on the four Par-5 holes while he only had two bogeys and recorded an eagle on the Par-4, 346-yard sixth hole.  He improved on his first place finish from a year ago at the 2011 WSU Invitational by three strokes as he shot 69 (-3).

MCLA senior Shane Ortega (Pittsfield, MA), Anna Maria junior Nathan McNamara (Leicester, MA) and sophomore Henry Fall (Harpswell, ME) of Elms finished tied for second overall with scores of 77 (+5).  Second-year players Patrick Donahue (Southington, CT) of Western New England and Tom Grant (Mansfield, MA) of Salem State tied for fifth place as they both fired 79 (+7).

Fourth-year Evan Foley (East Longmeadow, MA) of Elms, sophomores Tim Leigh (Somerset, MA) of Rhode Island College and Tyler LaBonte (Brewster, MA) of Westfield State, and freshman Nicholas Smith (Enfield, CT) of Elms all tied for seventh place with scores of +8 (80).

For Worcester State, junior Joe Belanger (Holden, MA) led the way as he fired a score of 83 (+11) which was tied for 18th.  He was followed by sophomore James Letourneau (Seekonk, MA) who ended with a card of 86 (+14) which placed him in a tie for 35th.  Chris McCarthy tied for 47th with a score of 89 (+17).

Senior Tim D'Orazio (Jamison, PA) shot a  93 (+21), to claim 60th place while classmate Jim Sarkisian (Auburn, MA) rounded out the scoring for the Lancers with a tie for 64th place finish as he carded a 96 (+24).

The Lancers will finish their spring season this weekend as they will play in the Johnson & Wales Invitational on Saturday and Sunday.

Release By Jim Sarkisian – Sports Information Assistant