BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Nicholas Dilio (Hopewell Junction, N.Y./John Jay) shot a four-under par second round to move into second place while Brian Grubbs (Cortez, Colo./Montezuma Cortez) continues to lead the individual competition and propel Saint Peter's into a 17-shot advantage at the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Men's Golf Championships on Saturday. The Peacocks have three players in the Top-10 and four in the Top-12.
One day after Grubbs posted a four-under par round of 68, Dilio became just the third Peacocks player to notch the best round at the MAAC Championships in team history to move into second place with a two-under par two-round score of 142, the second-best two-round score in program history. Starting on the back nine on Saturday, the sophomore eagled 10 and then birdied 11 before posting a bogey on 17 to finish the first nine holes on the afternoon at two-under par. He then carded birdies on seven and eight to finish the day with a 68.
Grubbs followed up his 68 in the first round with a one-over par round of 73 in the second round to go into the final round with a one-stroke lead over Dilio with a three-under par two-round score of 141, the best two-round score at the championships in team history. The senior opened the day with a one-under par first nine holes thanks to birdies on 12, 14 and 16 along with bogeys on 11 and 17. He made the turn with three-straight bogeys on the first, second and third holes before a birdie on seven helped him finish the day with a 73.
The defending MAAC Tournament champions started the day with a three-over par first nine holes and then went two-over par on the final nine holes to finish the day with a 293 after shooting an even-par round on Friday. The two-round score of 581 is the best two-round score in team history at the league championships.
Looking for its second-straight title, Saint Peter's will go into the final round with a 17-stroke lead on Iona (598) while Fairfield (601), Monmouth (602), Siena (606), Rider (610), Manhattan (610), Niagara (635) and Canisius (637) round out the nine-team field.
Brandon Molson (Westfield, N.J./Westfield) sits in 10th place after posting a 74 in the first round and a 75 in the second round for a two-day score of 149, the sixth-best round total in team history. Molson posted a one-over par on the front nine and a two-over par on the other side of the course to finish with a three-over round of 75. The senior had birdies on 10, 15 and No. 2 while recording bogeys on 12, 14, 18, three, five and nine.
Eric Edmunds (Skaneateles, N.Y./Skaneateles) sits one stroke outside of the Top-10 in 12th place after carding a 73 in the first round and a 77 in the second round for a two-round score of 150, the eighth-best two-round score in team history. The senior posted a five-over par on his first nine holes and then an even-par final nine holes after posting a bogey on 13 and 18 along with a double bogey on 17 while on his final nine holes had a birdie on three and a bogey on four.
Dominic Diaz (Bridgewater, N.J./Bridgewater Raritan) sits in 23rd place after recording a 73 in the first round and an 81 in the second round for a two-day score of 154. The sophomore started the day one-under par on the first five holes after birdies on 10 and 13 and a bogey on 11, but finished the final 13 holes 10-over par.
Saint Peter's looks to wrap up its second-straight MAAC Men's Golf Championship with the finak round on Sunday. The Peacocks will be paired with Fairfield and Iona and will start the round on the first tee. Diaz will be the first one to hit the green at 9 a.m. and will be followed by Edmunds (9:09 a.m.), Molson (9:18 a.m.), Dilo (9:27 a.m.) and Grubbs (9:36 a.m.).
