Bucknell University Athletics
Golf Digest Lauds Bucknell Golf Programs in Collegiate Rankings Issue
8/2/2006 8:00:00 AM | Women's Golf
Aug. 2, 2006
LEWISBURG, Pa. - On the heels of one of the finest golf seasons ever at Bucknell, Golf Digest, one of the preeminent publications covering the sport of golf, has for the second straight year included the Bucknell men's and women's programs among the best for institutions that stress academics first, according to its college rankings in the September issue of the magazine.
In compiling a collegiate ranking system intended to be used as a guide for junior players, Golf Digest rated each school in four categories: academics, climate, coach/facilities and golf performance. The editors used statistics from U.S. News & World Report's 2006 guidebook, America's Best Colleges. To assist prep golfers who may have different educational priorities, the magazine created three categories of rankings: "Golf First," "Academics First," and "Balanced." In each category, Golf Digest weighted the values of the four ratings to correspond with what student-golfers are looking for.
Both of Bucknell's teams received top-50 rankings in the "Academics First" category. The Bison women's squad, a member of the Big South Conference under head coach Kevin Jamieson, was ranked 27th nationally. Coach Jim Cotner's men's team, the 2006 Patriot League champion, was ranked 44th.
The Bucknell women placed fifth in the competitive Big South this spring, matching their highest finish ever. Sophomore Amy Loughney, who became the first Bison to earn All-Big South honors in 2005, enjoyed another terrific season in 2006 and just recently qualified for the U.S. Women's Amateur Championship to be played next week at Pumpkin Ridge CC in Oregon. Bucknell placed nine student-athletes on the Big South Presidential Honor Roll. The Bison will open the 2006-07 season at the Cardinal Classic in Muncie, Ind., on Sept. 9.
Bucknell's men's squad is also coming off an outstanding 2005-06 season. The Bison captured the Patriot League championship for the first time, while Charlie Waddell became the first player in league history to repeat as conference champion. Bucknell went on to compete in the NCAA West Regional, where it finished 26th in Tucson, Ariz. The Bison men also fared very well academically, placing a league-high eight student-athletes on the 2006 Patriot League Academic Honor Roll.
The Bison men also open the season on Sept. 9, at the Colgate Invitational.
In addition to its rankings, the Golf Digest college golf guide also provides college selection tips, advice from the coaches and teachers and listings of the best collegiate golf courses.
Bucknell sponsors 27 intercollegiate sports, including 14 for women, at the Division I level (I-AA football). It is a charter member of the Patriot League and has won the league's all-sports championship in 12 of the 16 years it has been contested. Bucknell led the nation with a 100 percent graduation rate in the 2003 survey and ranks fourth in Division I in producing Academic All-Americans.
