The Canisius College men's golf team opened the 2009 fall season Sunday by tying for 10th at the Turning Stone Intercollegiate Tournament in Verona, N.Y. The Golden Griffins posted a team-score of 330 in the first round and then came back with a combined score of 315 in the second round.

After the first two rounds of the 54-hole event, Canisius is tied with Colgate. The host Univeristy of Missouri leads after the first 36 holes with a team score of 597, with Richmond and the University of Oakland rounding out the top three.

Freshman Mike Spiotta is tied for 25th after the first two rounds of the event after he shot a 79 and a 77. Oakland's Michael Coriasson is the 36-hole leader with a combined score of one-under par on the power of his two-under 70 in the first round.

"I thought we played much better in the second round once we got a feel for things," Canisius head coach Todd Hummel said. "The slope on this course is the toughest in New York state. It's very challenging. And Mike Spiotta had a good start to his college career as well, being tied for 25th in a very competitive field."

The third and final round of the event is scheduled to tee-off Monday morning at 9 a.m.