OCEAN VIEW, NJ – For the first time in over a calendar year, Monmouth University Men's Golf returned to the golf course, competing in the season-opening MAAC Spring Kickoff at Shore Gate Golf Club, a five-team event hosted by Iona College. Freshman Travis Dix (Howell, NJ/Howell), competing in his first collegiate event as an individual, finished tied for fourth and shot a second-round even-par 72.

Dix fired an even-par 72 in his second collegiate round and first tournament, posting one of just eight scores of par of better in the 29-player field. He finished in a tie for fourth with a two-day total of 148. Senior Ron Robinson (Hatfield, PA/North Penn) shaved five shots off his total in the second round, shooting 74 Sunday to tie for 14^th, while sophomore Erik Stevens (Annandale, NJ/North Hunterdon) also improved by five between rounds, shooting a final-round 75 to finish T16. Rob McHugh (Wayne, NJ/Wayne Hills) placed 19^th with a pair of 79's, while Brendan Smith (Sayville, NJ/Sayville) was T20 and Matt McCormick (Shrewsbury, NJ/Christian Brothers Academy) finished T26.

The Hawks improved by 15 shots between rounds, shooting 320 on Saturday before posting a 305 on Sunday.

NOTES AND QUOTES
"We really struggled the first day after not being on grass for so long but the guys never gave up and played much better today. I am very happy for our first-year player Travis Dix, who played very well in our qualifier and continued his excellent play finishing fourth in his first college tournament." – Head Coach Bill Britton

-Travis Dix posted a top-five finish in his first collegiate event, finishing T4.
-Dix posted one of eight rounds in the tournament field of par or better.
-Ron Robinson, Erik Stevens and Brendan Smith each took five strokes off their opening round score on Sunday.
-44 of Robinson's 51 career rounds have been in the 70's.
-11 of McHugh's 15 career rounds have been in the 70's.
-The Hawks finished fifth in the five-team field.
-The tournament was Monmouth's first in over a calendar year, last competing on February 25, 2020 at the Saint Leo's Invitational in Florida.
-Monmouth Head Coach Bill Britton began his second season as the MU coach.
 
UP NEXT
-Monmouth will compete in the Saint Peter's Invite on Monday, March 15^th at Fox Hollow Golf Club in Branchburg, NJ.