WESTFIELD, Mass. - The Westfield State men's golf team took home second place at the 2017-18 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Championship at Berkshire Hills Country Club in Pittsfield, Mass., on Tuesday.

The Owls finished with a team score of 313, eight strokes back of team champions Salem State.

This marks the first time the MASCAC has played its championship tournament in the fall. The meet had previously been contested in the spring season, and Westfield's Mike Sarkis had won the 2016-17 individual title just four-and-a-half months ago when last contested at Blackstone Golf Club in Sutton, Mass.

Sarkis shot 78 today, good for sixth place individually, and one stroke off the pace of teammate Garrett Desmond, who tied for fourth with a 77.

Westfield's Ryan Koczela fired a 78 to match Sarkis' score, and freshman Matteo Godek's 80 rounded out the Owls scoring top four.

Freshman Kyle Fairbanks, who won the Brett Williamson Invitational in Westfield a week ago, could not match that form and finished with an 87.

Salem State's Chad Aliobozek took medalist honors with a 1-over par 73. The Vikings placed all five players in the 70's in claiming the conference crown.

In addition to the MASCAC Championship tournament's move to the fall, the championship event will also begin to rotate to host sites around the league and state. Westfield State is slated to host the event in 2019.

The Owls will be back on course this weekend, playing in the Elms College Invitational Tournament on Sunday and Monday at Hickory Ridge Golf Club in Amherst and then the Orchards in South Hadley, Mass.

TEAM SCORING and INDIVIDUAL LEADERBOARD