WHEELING, W.Va. – Michael Wareham (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional) moved into the individual lead as the Gannon men's golf team held a one-shot lead on Thursday evening when play was suspended because of a rain storm during the opening round of the Atlantic/East Regional.
 
Wareham was the leader in the clubhouse with a 2-under-par 69 on Oglebay Golf Resort's Speidel Jones Course. He was tied with teammate Shaunak Rama (Bryanston, South Africa/St Stithians Boys School), whose score was through 15 holes, and Glenville State's Benjamin Fernandez, who was through 12 holes.
 
As a team, Gannon was at 5-over par with Rama and Giovanni Delorenzi (Reggio Emilia, Italy/International School of Modena) yet to complete their rounds. Nine of the 20 teams still had to complete the first round when play was suspended. The remainder of the opening round will be played on Friday at 7:30 a.m. The second round is scheduled for a 9:30 a.m. start.
 
Millersville (6 over) was in second place in the 20-team field, followed by Adelphi (7 over), Assumption (11 over), and Charleston (12 over). The top five teams from the Atlantic/East Regional after the three-day tournament will advance to the NCAA Championships on May 21-25 in Winter Garden, Fla.
 

Wareham turned in a superb 3-under-par 33 on the front nine as he converted birdies on Nos. 1, 4, 7, and 8. He also carded a fifth birdie – on No. 11 – as he shot a 1-over-par 36 on the back nine.
 
"Michael led us off and was on fire all day," Gannon coach Dustin Coleman said. "He got as low as 4 under and finished at 2 under. Shaunak Rama (Bryanston, South Africa/St Stithians Boys School) is also playing great and has been under par all day.
 
"The rain came at a tough time as we were finishing on the more difficult holes, but hopefully we'll finish with the lead and can take the positives from the first round and build on that as we roll into the second round."
 
Rama also had a sizzling front nine at 2-under 34 as he birdied Nos. 2, 4, and 7.
 
Delorenzi was at 2-over par with three holes left in the first round. Senior Ryan Ferry (Meadville, Pa./Meadville) shot a 78 that included four birdies, and freshman Mattia Parrini (Verolengo, Italy/Verolengo) carded a 79.
 
Top five teams:
1. Gannon 265     +5
2. Millersville U. 183    +6
3. Adelphi 207   +7
4. Assumption University 211    +11
5. Charleston 296    +12
6. Indiana (Pa.) 274   +14
T7. Dominican (N.Y.) 192    +15
T7. Glenville State 227    +15
T9. Fayetteville State 300   +16
T9. St. Thomas Aquinas 300   +16
 
Top five individuals:
T1. Michael Wareham (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional), Gannon  69 (F)     -2 
T1. Shaunak Rama (Bryanston, South Africa/St Stithians Boys School), Gannon  57 (15)    -2 
T1. Benjamin Fernandez, Glenville State  45 (12)     -2 
T4. Matin Eisa, Davis & Elkins  70 (F)      -1 
T4. Filip Wetterqvist, Adelphi  46 (12)      -1
 
Gannon scores:
T1. Michael Wareham (Murrysville, Pa./Franklin Regional)  69 (F)     -2 
T1. Shaunak Rama (Bryanston, South Africa/St Stithians Boys School)  57 (15)     -2 
T17. Giovanni Delorenzi (Reggio Emilia, Italy/International School of Modena)   61 (15)     +2 
T67. Ryan Ferry (Meadville, Pa./Meadville)  78 (F)    +7 
T76. Mattia Parrini (Verolengo, Italy/Verolengo)  79 (F)    +8