The St. Thomas Aquinas men's golf team started their 2016-2017 with a convincing wire to wire victory at the Franklin Pierce Invitational in Keene, NH. The Spartans posted an astonishing 24-under par 552 team score; the lowest 36-hole score in its team history.

On day 1 the team battled bumpy greens and swirling winds gusting to 20mph. The Spartans got off to a hot start and was led by junior Mike Miranda who birdied his first and third holes. After hitting his tee shot in the left rough on the par 5 5th hole, Miranda hit a 4 iron to 15 feet and went on to drain his eagle putt. Miranda went on to post a team low round of 66 (-6) leaving him tied for the lead with SNHU's Matt Paradise. Senior Kevin Gately had a solid day on the course making 6 birdies and 2 bogeys to card a round of 68 (-4), while fellow senior Brendan Hunter battled to post a 2-under par 70. Sophomore Michael Frizalone played a solid round of golf, parring his final 10 holes to card an even par round of 72. The Spartan's team score of 276 (-12) tied the school record which they recorded last fall and left them in first place by 11 shots over SNHU.

On day 2 the team got off to a slow start, struggling on the greens. With Southern New Hampshire rolling in some early birdies, the team responded and pulled away from the field. Freshman Michael Frizalone carded a 5 under par 67, his low collegiate round and the low round of the day. Right behind him was Brendan Hunter who came back with a great round of 68 (-4). Kevin Gately and Mike Miranda rounded out the team scoring with rounds of 70 and 71 respectively. The team posted a second consecutive 276 (-12) for a 36-hole score of 552, 24-under par. That shatters the previous mark of 15 under par set by last year's team. The team finished 22 shots ahead of SNHU to win in their first event of the season. Four out of the five starters finished in the top 5 of the event with Miranda taking 2nd place at -7 (66-71), Hunter (70-68) and Gately (68-70) tied for 3rd at -6 and Frizalone finishing tied for 5th at -5 (72-67). New comer Hamish Houston posted a pair of 77's in his Spartan debut good for a T-41 finish.

The team is back in action next Monday and Tuesday at the Quechee DII Challenge hosted by Southern New Hampshire.