NICHOLASVILLE, Ky. – Eastern Connecticut State University junior Ashton Lewis (Fairfield) shot a five-over par 77 Thursday on the third day of the 2023 NCAA Division III National Golf Championship and is six-over 222 heading into the final day of competition at the Keene Track Golf Club.
 
Lewis is ranked in a tie for 41^st in a remaining field of 96 players after surviving the cut Wednesday with a one-over total of 145 over the first 36 holes of the event.
 
The Little East Conference champion, Lewis is one of only two golfers from New England institutions remaining in the tournament. He is joined by Sean McGarrity of Middlebury, who is tied for 53^rd with an eight-over total of 224 after three days. McGarrity helped the Panthers to their conference championship late last month by placing in a tie for sixth. McGarrity and Lewis both made the cut this week by shooting one-over par over the first 36 holes.
 
Playing Champion Trace for the second time in the tournament, Lewis started on the back nine Thursday and shot a three-over 39 and followed up with a two-over 38 on the front nine. On the back nine, he had seven pars (parring the final four holes), a bogie and a double bogie. He opened the front nine with three pars, parred twice and had three bogies over the next five holes before recording his only birdie on the day on the 172-yard, par three ninth hole.
 
Lewis shot a two-over 74 on the first day of competition on Champion Trace Tuesday and followed on the second day with a one-under 71 Wednesday at Keene Run for a two-day total of one-over 145 which qualified him for the third and fourth rounds.
 
The NCAA championship ends Friday, with defending champion Methodist College holding a four-stroke lead over Piedmont University. The event begins at 8 a.m., with Lewis scheduled to tee off from the tenth hole at 9:30 a.m.