WHEELING, W.Va. – Led by Michael Wareham (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional), the Gannon men's golf team opened a 10-stroke lead at the NCAA Division II Atlantic/East Regional on Friday.
 
Wareham shot in the 60s for the second consecutive day and took a four-shot lead as the Golden Knights shot 2-under par as a team in the second round on the Oglebay Golf Resort's Speidel Jones Course. As a result, Gannon is 8-over par (576) through the first two rounds and has a 10-stroke advantage over second-place Charleston (W.Va.) and a 24-shot lead over third-place St. Thomas Aquinas. The top five teams after Saturday's third round will advance to the NCAA Championships. Gannon is currently 25 strokes ahead of the three teams that are tied for fourth place.
 
"The guys played so well today," said Gannon coach Dustin Coleman. "It was a near-flawless round."
 
Wareham led the way for Gannon again. The junior was the first-round leader after shooting a 2-under-par 69 on Thursday, and he increased his lead to four shots by carding a 3-under 68 on Friday for a two-round total of 5-under 137. He holds a 4-shot lead over teammate Shaunak Rama (Bryanston, South Africa/St Stithians Boys School), who is at 141 (71-70).
 
"Mike continues to lead the charge and is playing phenomenal golf," Coleman said. "No one cares more or works harder than Mike. To see it all come together to this point is so exciting."
 
For the second straight day, Wareham had a brilliant front nine. After shooting a 3-under 33 on the front nine on Thursday, he shot a 4-under 32 on Friday. That score included birdies on Nos. 3, 5, 6, and 8. He added a birdie on No. 15 as he shot a 1-over 36 on the tough back nine.
 
Rama had six birdies in his round on Friday. He carded birdies on Nos. 2, 3, 5, and 7 as he shot a 1-under 35 on the front nine. He birdied No. 14 and 15 during his even-par 35 on the back nine.
 

 
Gannon's Ryan Ferry (Meadville, Pa./Meadville) and Giovanni Delorenzi (Reggio Emilia, Italy/International School of Modena) are tied for 22nd in the 108-golfer field with 149 scores. On Friday, Ferry shot a 71 that featured an eagle 2 on the par-41 10th hole. The senior also birdied No. 11 as he shot a 1-under 34 on the difficult back nine. Ferry also had three birdies on the front nine.
 
"We got a huge boost from Ryan today too," Coleman said. "He's had such a great career and has been struggling of late, so to get a great round from him was huge."
 
Delorenzi, a sophomore, was very consistent with three birdies and 10 pars.
 
Freshman Mattia Parrini (Verolengo, Italy/Verolengo) shot a 76 on Friday and is at 13-over 155 through two round.

"There have been positives from all the guys, and we're excited to put up one more good round together tomorrow," Coleman said.
 
The tournament concludes on Saturday with 18 holes.
 

Top 10 team scores
(20-team field)
Top five after Saturday's round advance to NCAA Championships

1. Gannon 294-282—576 +8
2. Charleston 296-290—586 +18
T3. St. Thomas Aquinas 300-300—600 +32
T4. Davis & Elkins 306-295—601 +33
T4. Indiana (Pa.)  303-298—601 +33
T4. Adelphi 301-300—601 +33
T7. Assumption  305-297—602 +34
T7. Post 308-294—602 +34
9. Fayetteville State 300-303—603  +35
10. Goldey-Beacom 302-302—604 +36
 
 
Top five individuals:

1. Michael Wareham (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional), Gannon 69-68—137 -5
T2. Shaunak Rama (Bryanston, South Africa/St Stithians Boys School), Gannon 71-70—141 -1
T2. Matin Eisa, Davis & Elkins 70-71—141  -1
4. Filip Wetterqvist, Adelphi 73-70—143 +1
5. Paul Sanchez, Charleston 71-73—144 +2
 
 
Gannon scores:

1. Michael Wareham (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional) 69-68—137 -5
T2. Shaunak Rama (Bryanston, South Africa/St Stithians Boys School) 71-70—141 -1
T22.  Ryan Ferry (Meadville, Pa./Meadville) 78-71—149  +7
T22. Giovanni Delorenzi (Reggio Emilia, Italy/International School of Modena) 76-73—149 +7
T63.  Mattia Parrini (Verolengo, Italy/Verolengo)   79-76—155 +13