ELLINGTON, Conn. – The Castleton University men's golf team is in second place after the first round of the Little East Conference Championship at the Ellington Ridge Country Club.
 
The Spartans shot 317 as a team, just six strokes behind first-round leader Eastern Connecticut. Castleton is also 10 shots ahead of third-place Southern Maine at the 6,936-yard, par-72 course.
 
Brady Hathorn and Nick Ojala are in a three-way tie for fourth place with USM's Carter Burnell, each of them firing rounds of 78 to open the tournament. Andrew Stefura shot 80 for Castleton while Brandon Picard carded an 81 on the day.
 
Eastern Connecticut's Ashton Lewis is the first-round leader after shooting a one-under 71. Teammates Jonah Dupois and Chris Davidson are tied for second at 77 (+5).
 
The tournament tees off the final round on Friday morning at 9 a.m.