CELEBRATION, Fla. - The Niagara golf team finished the first day of the MAAC Championships tied for seventh place with crosstown rival Canisius on Friday. Both school's four-man totals of 316 sit just four strokes back of sixth place Manhattan.

Junior co-captain Jason Polka (Lewiston, N.Y.) finished day one tied for 14th with a 76 (36-40) at the Celebration Golf Course in Celebration, Fla. Freshman Trevor Kenney (Burlington, Vt.) sits one stroke back of his teammate after a 77 (37-40).

Sophomore Jeremy Christie (St. Catherines, Ont.) carded an 81 (39-42) while junior Joe Tonnos (St. Catherines, Ont.)  finished with an 82 (39-43). Senior Chris Singleton (Niagara Falls, Ont.) totaled an 83 (41-42).

The Iona Gaels hold the lead after the opening round with a four-man score of 295. Iona's Anthony Rubeo leads the pack after a 71. Siena sits in second place (297) being paced by Jim Gifford's 71, and Loyola is in third (300) after Michael Mulieri's 71. Rider and Fairfield are tied for fourth with a four-man score of 304.

The Purple Eagles look to improve in the MAAC Championships on Saturday and Sunday.