Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Mt. St. Mary's Invitational
Bucknell Men's Golf Braves Wind, Wins Mount St. Mary's Invitational
10/29/2006 7:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Oct. 29, 2006
LITTLESTOWN, Pa. -- For the second straight day gale-force winds made scoring extremely difficult at the Mount St. Mary's Invitational, but the Bucknell men's golf team had enough to edge out Fordham and pull out its second victory of the fall season Sunday at Quail Valley GC.
Junior Keita Aoki (Tokyo, Japan/St. Mary's International School) was one of only three players in the field to card two rounds in the 70s (75-78), and he captured his first career individual title by two shots over Rob Gallagher of Long Island. Aoki birdied his final two holes of the day, which not only helped him win medalist honors but also pulled the Bison back into a first-place tie with Fordham.
After shooting 308 in the first round to take a three-shot lead over Fordham, the Bison slipped to a season-worst 330 in the tough conditions on Sunday. The Rams shot 327 to catch Bucknell, but the Bison were declared the winners based on a comparison of No. 5 player scores. Bucknell's fifth score was an 89, while Fordham's was a 92.
Charlie Waddell (Wilmette, Ill./Lake Forest Academy) and Stuart Lindgren (Richfield, Ill./Richfield) both finished in a tie for eighth place. Waddell shot 76 in the first round and was 1-under through 10 holes on Sunday, but he ran into trouble on No. 11 and finished with an 83. Lindgren shot 79-80.
Freshmen Andrew Cohen (Mamaroneck, N.Y./Mamaroneck) and Jeff Pike (Rye, N.Y./Rye) both shot 89 in the second round, which proved to be good enough to help the Bison win the title.
Bucknell and Fordham both shot 638, while Long Island was only one stroke back at 639. Saint Francis (Pa.) finished fourth at 647, followed by Monmouth (651), Duquesne (655), Mount St. Mary's (655) and Robert Morris (666).
The Bison started the fall campaign with a victory at the Colgate Invitational, and now they end it with another championship. The tournament title was Bucknell's seventh since the start of the 2003-04 season, a victory collection that is highlighted by the 2006 Patriot League championship.
Bucknell will begin defense of its league title when the spring season begins March 24-25 at the George Washington Invitational at Rehoboth Beach, Del.
