Brad Corcoran Notches First Individual Title at Lonnie Barton Invitational

3/12-13/05 -- Senior Brad Corcoran (Mississauga, Ontario) carded 151 to post a three-shot victory at the Lonnie Barton Invitational in Hilton Head, S.C. for his first individual crown at Long Island.

Corcoran opened play Saturday by firing 75 to tie David Bradshaw of Shepherd University for the first-round lead. It was the second straight tournament Corcoran held at least a share of the opening-round advantage after doing so March 8 at the Fairfield Invitational.

The All-Northeast Conference honoree from last year closed Sunday with 76 as Bradshaw and Matt Horn of Concord University were second. It was the Blackbirds' second individual title on the men's side with senior Sean Donnelly (Brampton, Ontario) winning the American University Classic on September 8, 2003.

Corcoran's performance led LIU to a third-place showing with 649. The Blackbirds shot 321 Sunday to tie for the day's third-best round.

Senior Kevin Allo (San Bernardino, Calif.) closed the championship tied for 14th with 161, including a final-round 77. Senior Mike Munoz (Yucaipa, Calif.) shot 166 and Donnelly finished with 171.

Corcoran's title comes on the heels of senior Veronica Lopes (Mississauga, Ontario) winning the Fairfield Invitational last Wednesday for her third individual crown. She has won all three individual titles on the women's side.

The tournament is named for the Blackbirds’ coach of eight seasons, who passed away last August following a long bout with cancer. Barton is a three-time NEC Coach of the Year and in 2004 paced the men’s squad to the league title.

LIU will compete at the Bradford Creek Intercollegiate from March 18-19 in Greenville, N.C.