REDDING, Conn. – Freshman Keenan Buteau (Scarborough, Maine) shot a 78 (+7) to end the first round of the 2025 Little East Conference Men's Golf Championship tied for first place on the individual leaderboard. Sophomore Alex Fournier (Augusta, Maine/Cony) sits in third after round one with an 81 (+10) as the University of Southern Maine Huskies lead the six-team field with a team score of 335 (+51). The Huskies lead Rhode Island College by 16 strokes and will look to repeat as conference champions with another strong round tomorrow and earn a return trip to the NCAA National Championship.
 
Buteau, who is tied with Rhode Island College's Jasper Bruins Slot for first place, is in the hunt for both the medalist title and the Rookie of the Year award. He was the top performing freshman in the field and leads Western Connecticut State's Logan Starks by four strokes heading into the final round. Buteau shot one-over 37 through the front nine with two birdies and five pars.
 
Sophomore Jaden Poirier (White River Junction, Vt./Hartford) and junior Finn Sharpe (Durham, Maine/Freeport) are also in contention for all-conference placements as they finished the round tied for ninth. Each player shot an 88 (+17) and will be looking to either jump to a first team all-conference slot by finishing in the top five or secure a second team spot by placing sixth through 10th.
 
Sophomore Alex Grant (St. Albans, Maine/Nokomis Regional) rounded out the Huskies' lineup and is currently tied for 16th with a 91 (+20). Grant tied with Buteau for the team lead in birdies with two while Poirier, Sharpe and Fournier each birdied one hole.
 
Team Scores:

1. Southern Maine (335, +51)
2. Rhode Island College (351, +67)
3. Eastern Connecticut State (354, +70)
4. Keene State (355, +71)
5. VTSU Castleton (360, +76)
6. Western Connecticut State (366, +82)

 
Up Next:
The event will continue tomorrow at 9:00 am with the bottom three teams grouped together. The Huskies will play with Rhode Island College and Eastern Connecticut State tomorrow with the first tee time for the group being at 9:50 am.