Prior to Monday's Colonial League Golf Championships at Bethlehem Golf Club, Salisbury's Kody Long went out to the course on Sunday for a little bit of preparation and shot a 79.

That round certainly paid off for Long just a day later.

Long, who had a goal of shooting 76 going into the league tournament, surpassed that and shot a four-over-par 75 on Monday. That score was good enough for a third-place finish in the tournament, just four strokes behind champion Cole Miller from Northwestern Lehigh.

"I've been playing really well the past few matches," Long said. "Almost all of them have been in the 70s. In the beginning of the year I didn't play very well, but I've been starting to play a lot better the last half of the year.

"Today was my best round ever here. So I was really happy playing the way I did."

Long's great day started with an even par front nine. He also had one of his best days on the putting greens to remain at the front of the pack up until the final hole. He was tied for second place going into the last hole, and while a double-bogey hurt his chances at that spot, Long was certainly pleased with his performance.

"I was chipping really well today," Long said. "I was hitting my driver really well. My putting was definitely the best. I putted really well today.

"I was two over through my first four holes, and on the front nine I shot par. I was pretty happy with that. I had all pars going into the last hole, and I double-bogeyed it."

Long's score was six strokes less than his season average of 81.

"I honestly didn't expect to do as well as I did, but I'm happy I did what I did," Long said.

Wilson's Colin Hagenbuch shot a 73 and finished in second place to round out the top three finishers. Southern Lehigh was named the 2013 Colonial League Team Champion.

Salisbury's Luke Chassard shot an 82 and finished in a tie for 13th place. Jack Bonge and Evan Kulig both shot 91 and finished in a tie for 27th. Brendan Reichenbach shot 96 (T-35th) and Chase Rogers shot 103 (T-46th) in the tournament.

While districts are still a few weeks away, Long is looking to build off the success he's endured throughout the second half of the season, which has now led to a top-three finish in leagues.

"I hope I can do really well in district-qualifying and make it to the district championship and hopefully play really well there," Long said.

The District 11 Championship qualifier will be held Monday at Mahoning Valley Golf Course in Lehighton. The district championship tournament will be held a week later at Blue Ridge Country Club in Palmerton.