BALTIC, Conn.– The University of Southern Maine holds a five-stroke lead following the opening round of the 2026 Little East Conference (LEC) Men’s Golf Championship, played Tuesday at Mohegan Sun Golf Club hosted by Eastern Connecticut State University.
The Huskies posted a team score of 287, finishing at 3-over-par on the 6,690-yard, par-71 course. Eastern Connecticut State University sits second at 292 (+8), followed by WestConn in third at 306 (+22).
Southern Maine’s SJ Welch and WestConn’s Brayden Kassel share the individual lead after each carded a 1-under-par 70. They were the only golfers in the 30-player field to finish the opening round under par.
The Huskies placed all four of their scoring golfers among the top nine. Owen Moore shot an even-par 71 to tie for third, while Alex Fournier and Will Farschon each finished at 73 (+2) to tie for sixth.
Eastern Connecticut’s Evan Regan joined Moore in a tie for third with an even-par 71. Ethan McDaniel followed in fifth with a 72 (+1), while Ryan O’Donnell tied for 10th at 74 (+3) and Jacob Carlson tied for 12th at 75 (+4), keeping the Warriors within five strokes of the lead.
Kassel paced WestConn, with teammate Daniel Zaleta adding a 73 (+2) to join the tie for sixth. Vermont State University Castleton’s Filip Ransdorf also shot 73 to round out the four-way tie.
Rhode Island College finished the day fourth in the team standings at 315 (+31), led by Max Nasser’s 74 (+3) and Kyle Cullen’s 75 (+4). Castleton sits fifth at 318 (+34), one stroke ahead of Keene State College at 319 (+35). Aidan Davis led the Owls with a 77 (+6), placing him 14th individually.
The championship concludes Wednesday, Oct. 14. Group 1 includes RIC’s Brady Pongvongkeo, Castleton's Will Woodruff and Keene State’s Cole Madden with a tee time of 10:30 a.m. The leaders Welch, Regan and Kassel are scheduled to tee off together at 11:42 a.m. That last group of the day, Farschon, McDaniel and WestConn’s Logan Starks will tee off at 11:51 a.m.
Team Standings after Round 1:
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Southern Maine, 287, +3
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Eastern Connecticut, 292, +8
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WestConn, 306, +22
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Rhode Island College, 315, +31
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Vermont State Castleton, 318, +34
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Keene State, 319, +35
Top 10 golfers, including ties:
T1. SJ Welch, Southern Maine, 70 (-1)
T1. Brayden Kassel, WestConn, 70 (-1)
T3. Evan Regan, Eastern Connecticut, 71 (E)
T3. Owen Moore, Southern Maine, 71 (E)
5. Ethan McDaniel, Eastern Connecticut, 72 (+1)
T6. Daniel Zaleta, WestConn, 73 (+2)
T6. Filip Ransdorf, Vermont State Castleton, 73 (+2)
T6. Alex Fournier, Southern Maine, 73 (+2)
T6. Will Farschon, Southern Maine, 73 (+2)
T10. Ryan O’Donnell, Eastern Connecticut, 74 (+3)
T10. Max Nasser, Rhode Island College, 74 (+3)