Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Patriot League Championship
Bison, Cohen in Title Hunt at Patriot League Golf Championship
4/25/2009 8:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
April 25, 2009
WEST POINT, N.Y. -- Led by a terrific opening day by junior Andrew Cohen (Mamaroneck, N.Y./Mamaroneck), the Bucknell men's golf team is very much in the title hunt at West Point Golf Club. After posting rounds of 295 and 297 on Saturday, the Bison are in third place behind Army and Navy but are only four strokes off the lead heading into Sunday's final round. Cohen, already a two-time All-Patriot Leaguer, is 1-under par through 36 holes and has the individual lead by two shots.
In the morning round, freshman Will Bachman (Wellesley, Mass./Wellesley) posted a 1-under 69 in his very first Patriot League Championship round, and Cohen shot 71 to help get the Bison going. The key round for Bucknell came in the afternoon, however. As the wind picked up, the Bison led the field with a round of 297, trimming a nine-stroke deficit down to four.
Cohen fired a tournament-best 2-under 68 in the afternoon, and his 36-hole total of 139 is good for a two-shot lead over Army's Matt Krembel. Cohen, who is coming off a win at the Caves Valley Intercollegiate last weekend, placed fourth and sixth in his first two PL Championship appearances.
On its home course, Army shot 286 in the first round to lead Navy by one, Bucknell by nine and Lehigh by 10. The Bison and Mountain Hawks (299) were the only two teams to break 300 in the afternoon -- Army and Navy both shot 302 -- and they reeled in some of that early deficit.
Bachman could not keep is morning touch going in round two, as he finished the day with an 81 to slip from a tie for first to T-10th. But the Bison did get consistent showings from junior Brian Bartow (Rye, N.Y./Rye Neck) and sophomore Ben Mattingly (Fishers, Ind./Park Tudor). Bartow shot 77-76 and Mattingly 79-76.
Also for the Bison, sophomores Andrew Wallisch (Pittsburgh, Pa./Fox Chapel) and Parker Phillips (Laguna Beach, Calif./St. Margaret's Episcopal) are both competing in the postseason for the first time. Wallisch posted rounds of 80-77, while Phillips shot 78-83 on the hilly West Point course.
Army's 36-hole total of 588 is one better than Navy. Bucknell is third at 592, followed by Lehigh (595), Lafayette (603), Colgate (620) and Holy Cross (630).
The final 18 holes get underway at 8 a.m. on Sunday.
