BREWSTER, Mass. - A pair of Saint Michael's College men's golfers broke 80 to help the Purple Knights tie for the sixth-best improvement between rounds as the New England Intercollegiate Golf Association (NEIGA) Championship came to a close on Monday at The Captains Golf Course. In a field comprised of 29 Division II and III schools, Saint Michael's fired 667 strokes - including 328 on day two - to tie for 25th and claim its best finish at the meet since 2011.

In the team's fall finale, sophomore Tucker Buteau (Gorham, Maine/Tilton School) tied for 17th among 43 Division II finishers and tied for 33rd out of 142 competitors overall by carding a two-day 158, recording a seven-under 79 for the second straight round. One of 13 Division II golfers with back-to-back performances in the 70s, he matched his second-lowest total of the fall. First-year Matt Johnson (Sudbury, Mass./Lincoln-Sudbury Regional) tied for 85th at 164 but was just three strokes out of the top 50. Johnson shaved six shots off of his first-round total while carding a 79 on Monday, notching his team-leading seventh round in the 70s this season.

Sophomore Colin Gaunt (Queensbury, N.Y./Queensbury) finished the meet with 167 shots to place 96th, cutting one stroke off of his Sunday total thanks to a second-round 83. Classmate Mike Byrne (Pembroke, Mass./Boston College HS) trimmed four shots between rounds, firing an 87 on Monday and 178 shots for the tournament.