Bucknell University Athletics
Men's Golf Team Prepares For Patriot League Golf Championship This Weekend
4/19/2001 8:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
April 19, 2001
Lewisburg, Pa.-- The Bucknell men's golf team will travel to Annapolis, Md. for the 11th annual Patriot League Championship Tournament this weekend, April 20-21, on Navy's par 71 USNA Golf Club.
Navy, last year's conference champion, hopes that hosting the event in 2001 will help it bring home another championship. Bucknell was in first place last year for a brief period before a wrongfully filled out scorecard was noticed which disqualified one of the Herd's lower scores. The Bison were forced to count a higher score and were thus left in the runner up position for the championship. The Bison look to redeem themselves this year after having strong fall and spring seasons.
Sophomore Jimmy Freeman (Laguna Niguel, Calif./St. Margarets) has stepped up his performance during the spring season, consistently lowering his score each match. With a score of 71 in the final round of the Navy Invitational, Freeman owns the lowest 18-hole score this spring for Bucknell. His team leading average of 79.25 strokes per 18-holes is through four rounds at the George Washington Invitational and Navy's Invitational.
Freshman Charles Markey (Southampton, Bermuda/Saltus Grammar School) has had a surprising spring for the Bison squad presenting the teams second lowest scoring average of 81.25. Markey who had a strong fall season continues to improve and will be a key factor in how the Bison finish in the tournament.
Senior leadership has been a factor throughout both the fall and the spring seasons for the Bucknell squad. Senior captain Ken Kosteva (Berwick, Pa./Central Columbia) not only brings a sound swing and a low score to the course but four years of experience to the younger members of the team. Kosteva's low score of 74 this season is the second lowest on the team. His play and leadership abilities will need to be at their best for the Bison to redeem themselves at this year's championship.
Also bringing senior leadership and the next lowest score to the links is David Horton (Broad Top City, Pa./Tussey Mountain). Horton has been consistent all season for the Bison in the fourth slot in the lineup. His ability to come in with a solid score could be crucial to Bucknell's success this coming weekend. This will be the senior's last collegiate competition and both are expected to have a huge impact in this weekend's tournament.
Rounding out the starting five is the lone junior on the team Nick Leibowitz (Danbury, Conn./Deerfield Academy). After miss-signing his scorecard at last year's Patriot League Championship, Leibowitz has more than enough motivation to turn in his best score of the spring season at the tournament.
The Bison look to redeem themselves this weekend after last year's mishap. Although not having the home course advantage, the Bison recently played on Navy's USNA course last weekend. After tying for tenth place last weekend at Navy, the Orange and Blue have a slight advantage over the rest of the field. Bucknell's hopes that this advantage will help it bring home its first Patriot League Championship title.
