Bucknell University Athletics
Bison Men's Golf Hosts Annual Tourney This Weekend
9/13/2013 2:25:00 PM | Men's Golf
LEWISBURG, Pa. -- Bison head golf coach Jim Cotner has a familiar dilemma ahead of him. He has enough quality depth on his roster that deciding on a five-man lineup each week is often a difficult task. Fortunately for Cotner, Bucknell's annual fall tournament is up next on the schedule, meaning all 10 players will be in action on their home course. The Bison will be looking to win their own event for the seventh time in the last 11 years, but just as importantly, some promising younger players will be looking to make their mark and push their way into the lineup as the season progresses.
Bucknell's 2013-14 roster consists of three seniors, two juniors, one sophomore and four first-year players, three of whom will be making their collegiate debuts this weekend. One of the four freshmen, John Edler, played well last week at the Colgate Invitational, where the Bison placed fifth out of 14 teams.
Edler, junior Zach Pogust, senior Schuyler Stitzer, senior Thomas Walter and freshman D.J. Magee will comprise Bucknell's "Orange" team this weekend, while the "Blue" squad will be made up of junior Peter Scialabba, senior Billy Wright, sophomore Nick Geissler and newcomers Zachary Melnick and James Mattes.
Last week at Colgate, Stitzer, Pogust, Walter, Scialabba and Edler combined to post rounds of 309-294-303. Stitzer was the team's low finisher at T-14th after rounds of 77-75-73. Pogust's second-round 1-under 71 was a career best and the team's lowest of the weekend. Walter also had a strong second round with a 74, and Edler bounced back with 74-76 after being DQ'd in the opening round.
Bucknell has been very successful at its home tournament in recent years, winning six of the last 10 titles. The Bison had won it four years in a row before finishing fourth and second over the last two seasons. In 2010, the Bison came from four shots behind at the start of the final round to defeat Robert Morris by just one stroke.
Last year, senior Dan Bernard was the individual medalist after carding 69-71-76. Both Bison five-man teams placed in the top three last year. Lehigh returns this weekend as the defending team champion.
Bucknell, Lehigh, Lafayette, Colgate, Dartmouth, Hampton, McDaniel, Purchase and Canadian programs Laval and Ottawa make up this year's field.
"We are a much younger team than in past years," said Cotner. "Some of these young guys are going to have to step up, and I think they will. There are guys pushing some of the older players, and that is a really good thing. The freshmen are playing for travel spots, and I see our experienced, older players being up to that challenge. When you have 10 players working hard at their games and pushing hard for spots, the end result is that you have a much stronger team."
Stitzer is the captain of the team in 2013-14. He has been a consistent contributor since he joined the program as a freshman, but last year he took the next step in becoming a First Team All-Patriot League player. Boosted by an even-par 72 in the opening round, Stitzer tied for fourth at the Patriot League Championship at Saucon Valley last April, and he also earned Academic All-Patriot League honors. His 76.2 season scoring average is the best among the returning Bison.
"We are looking to Schuyler to be a real team leader," said Cotner. "He is our most consistent player, and I think he is going to have a super senior year. He has a terrific short game to go along with solid ball-striking."
Walter and Wright are also looking for big senior seasons. Walter was off to an outstanding start a year ago before an emergency appendectomy set him back a bit early in the fall. He still came back and had a solid year, playing in seven events, including his first Patriot League Championship action.
"Thomas' job this year is to take that next step forward and be a top player for us," said Cotner. "I expect him to be a strong contributor. He has the ability to shoot very low scores, it's just a matter of confidence and making high-percentage decisions on the golf course. His putting held him back in the past, but he has a new putter and it looks like that element of his game is getting straightened out."
Wright also made the six-man Patriot League Championship lineup last spring, and he is looking to break into the top five on a more regular basis in 2013-14.
"Billy's biggest challenge is to develop full confidence in his own shot-making ability," said Cotner. "His short game has improved, his ball-striking is better, and now we need to get him to believe in his ability."
Scialabba burst onto the college golf scene with a runner-up finish and Rookie of the Year honors at the 2012 Patriot League Championship. He couldn't quite recapture that feeling last season, but he was a regular in the lineup, posted two top-20 finishes and posted a 78.6 average.
"Peter has always been one of our best ball-strikers, it's just a question of making some putts and developing into a consistent scorer," said Cotner. "He played very well at times last year but just had trouble putting together three solid rounds in a row. He is a very hard worker at his game, which bodes well for him."
Pogust was a very pleasant surprise for Cotner and the Bison last year. He earned a roster spot through preseason qualifying, and then went on to compete in six tournaments, including the Patriot League Championship, where he placed T-18th. He finished T-5th after a final-round 71 at the Bucknell Invitational and averaged 77.2 for the season. Pogust shot 71-71 in team qualifying this year and is now looked upon as a key veteran player for the Bison.
"I was very pleased with the way Zach came back last year," said Cotner. "He worked very hard and has become a consisted ball-striker. The way he played last year has really helped his confidence. He belongs at this level, and he knows that now."
Geissler is Bucknell's lone member of the sophomore class. He showed some promise last year, most notably in a second-round 74 at the Bucknell Invitational. Now his game is maturing at the collegiate level, and he is on the cusp of becoming a regular contributor.
"We are going to depend on Nick a lot this year," predicted Cotner. "His game is strong. For him, it's just a matter of learning how to shoot great scores in addition to just having a really pretty swing."
Edler, Magee, Melnick and Mattes comprise a strong first-year class, one that Cotner feels has the potential to go down as one of the best in his 13-year tenure at Bucknell.
Edler made the five-man lineup for the season-opening tournament at Colgate after shooting 72-72 in team qualifying. In one of those rounds he hit 17 of 18 greens. Edler had a fantastic high school career in New Jersey, where he was named Shore Player of the Year in 2013.
"John is probably as good a ball-striker as we have brought in here," said Cotner. "He is certainly in a category with guys like Charlie Waddelland Andrew Cohen in terms of ball-striking ability. That has already started to translate into some good scores, and he is fitting in very well."
Magee comes to Bucknell from Torrey Pines High school in Southern California, where he was an all-conference and all-section player. Melnick helped lead Saint Joseph's Prep to a Philadelphia Catholic League title, and last April he won an IJGT event at Bulle Rock in Maryland. Mattes led Duxbury High School to a Massachusetts state championship in 2011, and he earned a spot on the Bucknell roster through preseason qualifying.
"D.J. should be a wonderful player here," said Cotner. "His game is perfect for being a consistent scorer at the collegiate level. He has accuracy off the tee, can move his ball in either direction and is a terrific putter. Zach Melnick has a similar game to D.J.'s. He is a wonderful driver of the golf ball. With some college experience, he will be a very good player for us. James Mattes is very consistent, and I was really pleased with his short game."
Following the Bucknell Invitational, the Bison will have fall tournaments at Cornell, Army and Lehigh, as well as the Donald Ross Intercollegiate at Mimosa Hills CC in North Carolina in mid-October.
The Army Invitational on Oct. 6-7 will give the Bison a look at the challenging, hilly West Point Golf Course, which will be the site of the 2014 Patriot League Championship.
Players Mentioned
