Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
NCAA Regionals
Bucknell Golf Finishes 26th at NCAA Regional
5/20/2006 8:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
May 20, 2006
TUCSON, Ariz. -- The Bucknell men's golf squad put the finishing touches on a wonderful 2005-06 season with a round of 312 Saturday at the NCAA West Regional at Omni Tucson National. The Bison struggled a bit over the final 18 holes after opening with rounds of 297 and 300, but they finished in 26th place, one spot higher than their seed.
Competing in an NCAA Championship as a team for the first time since 1961, Bucknell nipped Jackson State by one stroke for 26th place. Arizona and Florida tied for the team title at 37-under par over 54 holes.
Sophomore Keita Aoki (Tokyo, Japan/St. Mary's International School) turned in the low scorecard of the day for the Bison, a five-over 75. Senior Ben Pellicani (Severna Park, Md./Severna Park), who quicky headed to airport after his round to catch a red-eye back to Pennsylvania for Sunday's graduation ceremonies, and junior Kyle Moran (Greenwich, Conn./Brunswick School) both shot 78. Pellicani's 222 total, which included a 1-under 71 in the first round, led the team and placed him in a tie for 95th overall.
Junior Charlie Waddell (Wilmette, Ill./Lake Forest Academy), Bucknell's No. 1 player and the two-time Patriot League Champion, was even par through 12 holes but double bogeyed three of the final six to finish with 79. Junior Chas Wagner (Oakmont, Pa./Hampton) also turned in his highest score of the week with an 85.
Florida's Billy Horschel and Nevada's Casey Watabu tied for the individual lead at 13-under, one shot better than Washington's Zach Bixler and East Tennessee State's Rhys Davies.
In addition to Arizona and Florida, Arizona State (-24), Washington (-24), N.C. State (-19), BYU (-17), Loyola Marymount (-17), East Tennessee State (-15), Pepperdine (-13) and Nevada (-13) all advanced to the NCAA finals May 31-June 3 in Sunriver, Ore.
Bucknell, which captured its first-ever Patriot League championship this spring, will return all but two lettermen next fall.
