Bucknell University
Bucknell Invitational
Bucknell Captures First Men's Golf Tourney Since 1987
9/13/2003 8:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Sept. 13, 2003
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Buoyed by four scores of 73 or better, the Bucknell men's golf team shot a season-best 291 on Saturday to capture the Bucknell Invitational title, giving the Bison their first championship in a tournament of at least 36 holes in nearly 16 years.
Freshman Charlie Waddell, competing in his first collegiate event, backed up an opening-round 71 with a two-over-par 72 on Saturday. His 36-hole total of 143 was good for a tie for third place in the individual standings, five shots behind medallist Andrew Hill of Mount St. Mary's, who shot a pair of 1-under 69s.
Backing up Waddell were Abbie Valentine, Alex Dolle and Tom Lane, who all shot 73 in the second round, which was interrupted for nearly two hours due to a downpour over the Bucknell University Golf Club.
Valentine and Dolle each finished in a three-way tie for fifth place with 145 composites, while Lane tied for 15th at 151. Ben Pellicani also competed with the Bison's "Orange" squad and shot 86-78.
The Bucknell "Blue" team also fared well, finishing in 10th place in the 19-team field with a 36-hole total of 616 (308-308). Freshman Kyle Moran was solid on Saturday with a 73, and he joined Lane in the tie for 15th at 151. Charles Wagner (73-79), Patrick Yingling (77-76), Charles Markey (80-85) and Ryan Hom (86-80) also competed for the Bison.
Bucknell last captured a tournament title in the spring of 1987, when it won the East Coast Conference championship at Pocono Manor (Pa.).
The Bison took a one-shot lead over Cornell after Friday's opening round, but the Big Red faded to sixth with a final-round 312. Lafayette claimed the runner-up spot with a 595 aggregate (300-295) and finished 11 strokes behind the host Bison. Loyola (600), Robert Morris (602) and Lehigh (603) rounded out the top five. The biggest second-round leap came from Rider, which improved from 18th to eighth with a 293 on Saturday, a 26-stroke improvement from the Broncs' opening 18 holes.
Local rival Susquehanna finished in 15th place at 631 (311-320).
The Bison will look to maintain their strong play next Sunday and Monday at the St. Bonaventure Invitational in Olean, N.Y.
