GROTON, Conn. – Placing three golfers among the top five, the Wentworth Institute of Technology golf team opened up the 2018-2019 season by winning the Mitchell Invitational, which was played Friday afternoon at the Par 71 Shennecossett Golf Course.

The Leopards carded a 306, which bested the host Mariners by 22 strokes. Eastern Nazarene (330) and Albertus Magnus (384) also competed.

Junior Sean L'Italien (Pembroke, Mass.) finished second among the 19-golfer field as he carded a three-over 74. L'Italien rebounded from playing the front nine at four-over to shot one-under on the back nine. Two of his three birdies came on the back nine. Freshman Nick Kurtz (Dover, N.H.) had an impressive collegiate debut as he finished third, coming in with a 75. Two of his three birdies came on the front nine. Sophomore Sancho Rodriguez (San Roque, Spain) finished fifth with a 78, while junior Matthew Pleshaw (Franklin, Mass.) finished a stroke out of the top five with a 79. Senior Matthew Dean (Gilford, N.H.) finished with a 94, good for 13th place.

Wentworth returns to the links on Wednesday for a quad match with Emmanuel, Suffolk, and Mitchell at the Franklin Park Golf Course.

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