LEBANON, Pa. – The West Liberty University men's golf team struggled through a pair of tough days at the NCAA D2 Atlantic/East Region Preview event and finished in 20th place here at the Iron Valley Golf Club.

    The Hilltoppers shot rounds of 314 and 315 in the two-day event to post a 36-hole score of 53-over-par 629 at the 7,026-yard, par 72 layout to finish 20th in the 25-team field. Gannon shot 20-over-par 596 to post a one-shot victory over runner-up St. Thomas Aquinas (597) in the team standings. Davis & Elkins (602) was third.

    Mountain East Conference Player of the Year Alex Easthom notched a Top 20 finish in the medal chase, finishing tied for 14th place with a 6-over-par 150. Gannon's Giovanni Delorenzi took medal honors. The only player to break par in the event at 1-under-par 143, he won by three strokes over a trio of players tied at 2-over-par 146.

    The Atlantic/East Region Preview is an annual event bringing together the top teams from the Atlantic and East Regions to compete in a 36-hole tournament on the course that will be hosting that season's NCAA D2 Atlantic/East Region Championships. The Hilltoppers checked in at No. 7 in the most recent Atlantic Region rankings.

    This year's Atlantic/East Region Championships will be played May 11-13 at the Iron Valley Golf Club. The NCAA will announce the 20-team field for the 54-hole event on Friday night.