Bucknell University
Bucknell Invitational
Bucknell Men's Golf Shoots School-Record 276 in Second Round, Leads Own Invitational by Nine Strokes
9/18/2009 8:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Sept. 18, 2009
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Four different Bucknell players shot in the 60s on Friday afternoon, and the Bison men's golf team shot a school-record, 4-under-par 276 in the second round of its own fall tournament, the Bucknell Invitational, and leads the 14-team field by nine strokes. The Bison shot a 291 in the first round and finished at 7-over-par (567) for the day, which featured 36 holes of play.
Taking advantage of gorgeous weather conditions, Bucknell has the top three players and four in the top eight in the individual standings.
Andrew Cohen (Mamaroneck, N.Y./Mamaroneck), who carded a 2-under-par 68 in the second round to follow an even-par 70 on the first 18, and Andrew Wallisch (Pittsburgh, Pa./Fox Chapel), who shot a 73-66-139, hold down the top two spots in the individual standings, which feature four Bucknell golfers in the top 10.
Cohen, the reigning Patriot League champion, equaled his career low with the 68. He had a 3-under 68 in the second round of last year's Patriot League Championship. Wallisch's 66 was the second-best score in the entire field on Friday, and it crushed his previous career best of 74.
A second group of Bison golfers who competed as the Bucknell "Blue" team are tied for fifth in the team standings with Lafayette. Ben Mattingly (Fishers, Ind./Park Tudor), who is tied for third in the individual standings, paced that group with a 72-68-140 Friday. Three of the four golfers who are at even par or better are Bison, as Robert Morris' Max Cahn, whose 65 in the second round was the best score of the day, is also at even par.
Bucknell smashed its previous school record for a round by three strokes. The Bison's previous best was a 1-under 279 recorded at the same fall Bucknell Invitational two years ago.
Brian Bartow (Rye, N.Y./Rye Neck) rounded out the trio of Bison on Bucknell's top team -- the "Orange" squad -- that finished under par in the second round Friday as he carded a 68, following a 75 in the first round. He stands tied for eighth in the individual standings and is just five strokes off Cohen's pace as he aims for his second consecutive tournament title following last weekend's victory at the Colgate Invitational. Bartow's 68 was a career-best by one shot.
Jeff Pike (Rye, N.Y./Rye), who won the Bucknell Invitational title last fall, rounded out the list of counted scorers for the "Orange" squad as he shot a 73-74-147 Friday. He is tied for 17th overall in the individual standings.
Mattingly, a junior, was the veteran on the "Blue" team and provided leadership to freshmen Dan Bernard (78-71-149), Jon Hartman (79-72-151) and J.J. Szmadzinski (75-76-151) as well as classmate Parker Phillips (81-80-161).
Canisius ranks second to Bucknell in the team standings. The Golden Griffins led the Bison by seven strokes after recording a 284 in the first round. However, Bucknell bested them by 16 strokes in round two. Bucknell has had success at its own fall invitational recently, winning the event four times in the last six years.
Taking the top four scores from both teams, Bucknell hypothetically shot 288-270 on Friday.
The final round of the 54-hole tournament will take place Saturday morning at the Bucknell Golf Club.
