KEENE, N.H. – Bentley University’s first-year women’s golf team displayed great improvement Tuesday during the second day of the season-opening Franklin Pierce Fall Invitational at Bretwood Golf Club. The five Falcons to participate in the first tournament in program history improved by a total of 35 strokes over their first-round performance.
              
“The team calmed down and played much better today,” said coach David Scholnick. “There was improvement across the board.” Bentley’s team score dropped from 372 to 354 and the Falcons climbed from eighth to seventh place, and trailed sixth-place Assumption University by just six strokes.
              
Bentley’s top golfers were a pair of freshmen, Tanya Chowdary (Belle Mead, N.J./Wardlaw Hartridge School) and Alexandra Kwon (Westford, Mass./Westford Academy). Chowdary turned in an 82-86-168 and Kwon posted an 85-83-168 with the duo combining to tie for 22nd place in the 42-player field.
              
Bettering their first round scores by significant margins were junior Jillian Miles (Rutland, Vt./Vermont Academy) (11 strokes to an 88), senior Kaitlyn McCarthy (Medfield, Mass./Medfield HS) (9 strokes to a 97) and freshman Ryley King (Barnstable, Mass./Barnstable HS) (17 strokes to a 105).
              
Franklin Pierce claimed the team title with a score of 621 and the medalist was the Ravens’ Kesinee Prukmathakul, with a 74-75-149.
              
Bentley will be back in action this weekend for the Hartford Hawks Gillette Ridge Invitational.