Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Men?s Golf Opens 2015 Fall Season at Colgate
9/4/2015 6:14:00 PM | Men's Golf
The Bucknell men's golf team feels as if it has a score to settle as the 2015 fall season gets underway. Left with a bitter taste after a seventh-place finish at last spring's Patriot League Championship, the Bison begin the new year this weekend at the Colgate Invitational with the intent of proving last season's finish was an anomaly.
“The guys definitely feel as though they underperformed at Colgate at the Patriot League Championship last year, and it has made them hungry to do better this year,” said second-year head coach Michael Binney. “They are not necessarily upset or embarrassed, but they just know they can play a lot better. It affected how hard they prepared over the summer.”
Bucknell will see league rivals Colgate, Lafayette and Lehigh this weekend, along with Canisius, Cornell,
Fairleigh Dickinson, Hofstra, Iona, Niagara, Ottawa, St. Bonaventure, Wagner and Youngstown State. The 54-hole tournament will consist of 36 holes on Saturday and 18 on Sunday at the par-72 Seven Oaks Country Club. Live scoring will be available at GolfStat.com.
Binney will be taking a young team to Colgate for the season-opener. He held a 72-hole qualifier last weekend at the Bucknell Golf Club, which determined the lineup for this week's event. Sophomore C.J. Zachary won the qualifier with a final-round 70, and he will be joined in the starting five by junior Zachary Melnick, sophomore Daniel Levin and a pair of freshmen in Connor O'Brien and J.P. Raftery.
Raftery was the surprise of the qualifying tournament. He finished in fourth place to earn a spot on the roster as a walk-on. Levin was in that position last year, and he went on to lead the team in stroke average at 75.7 in 2014-15. Levin recorded five top-10 finishes across the fall and spring seasons a year ago.
“Dan was our No. 1 player as a walk-on last year, and we expect him to be in our top five all season this year as well,” said Binney. “He put in a ton of hard work this summer and got himself in really good physical condition. He is ready to go. If we can get the same thing out of J.P. Raftery this year then that would be a real pleasant surprise. J.P. was a hockey player and a golfer in high school, and he hits the ball hard and far.”
Melnick is part of a talented junior class that also includes John Edler and D.J. Magee. Edler and Magee have both been regular starters throughout their careers, and both figure to be mainstays in the lineup as this season progresses. Edler was just a notch behind Levin for low average last year at 75.8, and he had a pair of top-6 finishes a year ago.
“John might be the most naturally gifted player on the team,” said Binney. “He has such a natural swing, and when his putter is on, he can go low. I expect him to be a regular starter moving forward.”
Magee joined Levin as the only Bison to play in every tournament in 2014-15. Magee compiled a 77.6 average with four top-20s last season. Melnick averaged 79.9 for the year.
“D.J. was one of our top three guys last year, and we expect the same this year,” said Binney. “He is a very consistent player. Zach Melnick was our No. 2 qualifier this year, and his 68 was the low round of the tournament. He is a very solid ball-striker who is also very smart on the course. He is steady and methodical, and he makes very few mistakes.”
The lone senior on this year's roster is Nick Geissler, who appeared in a career-high seven events a year ago. Geissler had an internship this past summer, which has delayed his preparation for the season, but Binney says he is counting on his elder statesman for more than just birdies and pars.
“Nick is a great team leader, on and off the course,” praised Binney. “He sets a great example for the younger guys and really holds them accountable as far as how they conduct themselves and how they get their work in.”
Levin, Zachary and the long-hitting J.B. Thompson comprise the sophomore class. While Levin quickly turned into one of the league's best rookies last season, Binney feels that Zachary and Thompson are ready to turn the corner this fall. Zachary has already proven that by winning the qualifier.
“C.J. is a very consistent ball-striker,” said Binney. “He doesn't hit it super far, but it is straight and consistent. He has also worked hard on his conditioning and is much stronger than last year. This is the most confidence he has had since he got here. J.B.'s biggest weapon is his driver. He hits it long and straight. J.B. struggled in the first round of qualifying and then finished with 73-72-74. He has really worked hard on his short game, and I am expecting big things from him this season.”
In the first-year class, Raftery and O'Brien made the starting five for Colgate this week, and Jubal Early will also be traveling and playing as an individual. Ashton Radvansky joins the team after a stellar junior career in the Houston area, and Binney feels like this could be an impact freshman class.
“Connor O'Brien is an extremely consistent ball-striker, and he gained a ton of confidence from making it to the match play round at the USGA Junior Amateur this summer,” said Binney. “He is extremely smart and manages his game well. Jubal Early is a very good ball-striker and a natural leader. I expect him to contend for a spot in the starting lineup throughout the season. Ashton Radvansky was the 2014 Houston Golf Association Player of the Year, and he received a First Tee scholarship. He was one of the favorite sons in Houston junior golf, and we are so excited to have him here. He is a huge hitter, and his game should translate well to the college level.”
This will be a busy fall for the Bison, who will compete in seven events in a span of seven weeks in September and October. After opening at the Colgate Invitational, Bucknell will host its annual fall tournament on Sept. 12-13 at the Bucknell Golf Club.
The Cornell Invitational, Columbia Invitational, Binghamton Invitational, Donald Ross Invitational and Lehigh Invitational will follow.
Over the course of those seven weeks, Binney hopes to see all 11 of his players in action and assess where his team stands heading into the championship season in the spring. His optimism is high.
“I think there are high expectations from everyone,” said Binney. “The freshmen are forcing the older guys to ramp up their games. A little bit of internal competition is good, and we have already seen quite a bit of that. The newcomers all know that they can play with these guys. Everyone is working hard at the practice facility, knowing that there are no gimmies in the lineup right now.”
Players Mentioned
