REDDING, Conn. - Defending Little East Conference (LEC) men’s golf champion University of Southern Maine holds a 16-stroke lead over second-place Rhode Island College following the first day of competition at the 2025 LEC Men’s Golf Championship, hosted by Western Connecticut State University at The Redding Country Club.
 
USM’s Keenan Buteau and RIC’s Jasper Bruins Slot are tied atop the individual leaderboard with a seven-over round of 78 on the blustery opening day of competition. Southern Maine’s Alex Fournier sits in third at 10-over par.
 
The top-five includes a three-way tie for fourth at 11-over featuring Eastern Connecticut’s Ethan McDaniel, Keene State’s Aidan Davis and WestConn’s Logan Starks. McDaniel was the medalist at last year’s LEC Men’s Golf Championship
 
A trio from Vermont State Castleton occupy the seventh through ninth positions; Cam Reid leads that group at 15-over, followed by Sam Knight (+16) and Reid Myers (+17). Southern Maine’s Jaden Poirier and Finnegan Sharpe are also tied for ninth at 17-over.
 
The second and final round of competition at The Redding Country Club will get underway Friday at 9 a.m.
 
Team Standings
1. Southern Maine: 335
2. Rhode Island College: 351
3. Eastern Connecticut: 354
4. Keene State: 355
5. Vermont State Castleton: 360
6. Western Connecticut: 366