Bucknell University Athletics
Coach Binney Bids Farewell to Standout Senior Class
6/21/2019 12:58:00 PM | Men's Golf
From Head Coach Michael Binney
Last month I said goodbye as my first recruiting class graduated with the class of 2019. The four seniors that made up that class -- Jubal Early, Connor O'Brien, Ashton Radvansky and J.P. Raftery -- were the catalysts for moving this program in a positive direction, and I could not be prouder of what they have accomplished individually and as a core unit.
When I took over as the head coach in the late summer of 2014, I had to not only get the current team organized and ready to compete that fall, but I also had to move quickly on the recruiting side since I was significantly behind on the recruiting timeline.
Jubal, Connor, Ashton and JP were ready to hit the ground running when they arrived on campus the following summer in late August, and it amazes me how fast the last four years have gone.
Jubal, a co-captain both his junior and senior years, was selected as a 2019 Cleveland/Srixon All-America Scholar. Not to be confused with an NCAA All-American selection, this award recognizes both athletic and academic performance over the course of a player's junior and senior year. Jubal was also recognized by the Athletic Department with the Robert A. Latour Service Award for his contribution to the Bucknell community and was a member of the Bucknell Athletics Leadership Institute. He was a consistent starter every year, played in each of the four Patriot League Championships, and made the All-Patriot League Second Team in his sophomore year. Jubal graduated cum laude and was a perennial addition to the Dean's List. To say that I will miss his sense of humor is an understatement.
Connor (OB) is undoubtedly the biggest work horse of the bunch. He never complained, never grumbled (maybe a little), he just played golf, and played it well. OB was selected as a Cleveland/Srixon All-America Scholar recipient and was a member of the Bucknell Athletics Leadership Institute. OB played in more events than any other senior over the course of his four years here at Bucknell; he loved to travel, compete and try to win golf tournaments. OB was an All-Patriot League selection his junior year and has been a two-tome Patriot League All-Academic selection as well. This past spring was a tough one for OB, as he broke his ankle in January. It was not looking good for him to play at all this spring, but he was an animal at PT, got himself back into shape and played the last two events of the season. He placed 13th at the conference championships. That in itself is remarkable and a testament to his grit and determination. OB graduated cum laude with a degree in financial management and will remain in the metro area to pursue both his business and post-college golf dreams. OB's unique sense of humor (and his iconic laughter) will be missed around the Bachman Center.
Ashton was a workhorse both on and off the course and was a leader in the Freeman School of Management. Selected as the Chair of the Freeman College of Management Student Advisory Board, he was the recipient of the George V. McGhee Investments Scholarship, as well as being a member of the Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society, the Mortar Board Honor Society, the Order of Omega Honor Society and the team representative to the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. Maintaining the highest GPA on the team, Ashton graduated magna cum laude and was on the Dean's List every semester here at Bucknell. Ashton is heading back to Texas with his degree in financial management and will be ready to take on the world in the Houston financial district! Let's Go!
John Patrick Raftery, or JP to the rest of us, was the linchpin of this team over the past four years. JP was a co-captain this year with Jubal and has been a de facto leader on this team since his freshmen year. JP was all-conference his first three years and, shooting 2-under and 6-under in his first two PL Championships, was runner up at the Patriot League Championships in both his freshmen and sophomore season. JP owns the single season and combined-season scoring averages in Bucknell Golf history. JP's stellar play over the past four years has been nothing short of amazing, and he was recognized for this achievement with the Bison Club Award at the senior awards dinner. JP has also been selected for the Cleveland/Srixon All-America Scholar award and will be sorely missed here at Bucknell.
I've said it before but I'll say it again, I'm going to miss these guys.
Coach
Jubal Early
Second Team All-Patriot League, 2016
4-time Patriot League All-Academic Honor Roll
2-time Team Captain – (2017-2018), (2018-2019)
(1) Top-5 tournament finish
(3) Top-10 tournament finishes
Bucknell Athletics Robert A. Latour Service Award Winner – 2019
Cleveland/Srixon All-America Scholar - 2019
Connor O'Brien
Second Team All-Patriot League – 2018
Co-Medalist, Dartmouth Quechee Club Intercollegiate -- 2018
4-time Patriot League All-Academic Honor Roll
Cleveland/ Srixon All-America Scholar – 2018, 2019
Patriot League - All-Academic team -- 2018, 2019
(3) Top-5 tournament finishes
(6) Top-10 tournament finishes
Ashton Radvansky
Four-time Patriot League Academic Honor Roll
George V. McGee Investment Scholarship Winner
Chair of Freeman College of Management Student Advisory Board
Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC)
Order of Omega (Greek Life Honor Society)
Alpha Lambda Delta (Honor Society)
Mortar Board (Honor Society)
JP Raftery
First Team All-Patriot League – 2016, 2017
Second Team All-Patriot League – 2018
Patriot League Championships Runner-Up – 2016, 2017
Patriot League Rookie of the Year – 2016
Patriot League All-Academic Team – 2017, 2018
Cleveland/ Srixon All-America Scholar – 2018, 2019
Bucknell Athletics Bison Club Award Winner – 2019
Bucknell Season & Career Scoring Average Records
(6) Top-5 Tournament finishes
(6) Top-10 Tournament finishes
Team Captain (2018 – 2019)
Last month I said goodbye as my first recruiting class graduated with the class of 2019. The four seniors that made up that class -- Jubal Early, Connor O'Brien, Ashton Radvansky and J.P. Raftery -- were the catalysts for moving this program in a positive direction, and I could not be prouder of what they have accomplished individually and as a core unit.
When I took over as the head coach in the late summer of 2014, I had to not only get the current team organized and ready to compete that fall, but I also had to move quickly on the recruiting side since I was significantly behind on the recruiting timeline.
Jubal, Connor, Ashton and JP were ready to hit the ground running when they arrived on campus the following summer in late August, and it amazes me how fast the last four years have gone.
Jubal, a co-captain both his junior and senior years, was selected as a 2019 Cleveland/Srixon All-America Scholar. Not to be confused with an NCAA All-American selection, this award recognizes both athletic and academic performance over the course of a player's junior and senior year. Jubal was also recognized by the Athletic Department with the Robert A. Latour Service Award for his contribution to the Bucknell community and was a member of the Bucknell Athletics Leadership Institute. He was a consistent starter every year, played in each of the four Patriot League Championships, and made the All-Patriot League Second Team in his sophomore year. Jubal graduated cum laude and was a perennial addition to the Dean's List. To say that I will miss his sense of humor is an understatement.
Connor (OB) is undoubtedly the biggest work horse of the bunch. He never complained, never grumbled (maybe a little), he just played golf, and played it well. OB was selected as a Cleveland/Srixon All-America Scholar recipient and was a member of the Bucknell Athletics Leadership Institute. OB played in more events than any other senior over the course of his four years here at Bucknell; he loved to travel, compete and try to win golf tournaments. OB was an All-Patriot League selection his junior year and has been a two-tome Patriot League All-Academic selection as well. This past spring was a tough one for OB, as he broke his ankle in January. It was not looking good for him to play at all this spring, but he was an animal at PT, got himself back into shape and played the last two events of the season. He placed 13th at the conference championships. That in itself is remarkable and a testament to his grit and determination. OB graduated cum laude with a degree in financial management and will remain in the metro area to pursue both his business and post-college golf dreams. OB's unique sense of humor (and his iconic laughter) will be missed around the Bachman Center.
Ashton was a workhorse both on and off the course and was a leader in the Freeman School of Management. Selected as the Chair of the Freeman College of Management Student Advisory Board, he was the recipient of the George V. McGhee Investments Scholarship, as well as being a member of the Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society, the Mortar Board Honor Society, the Order of Omega Honor Society and the team representative to the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. Maintaining the highest GPA on the team, Ashton graduated magna cum laude and was on the Dean's List every semester here at Bucknell. Ashton is heading back to Texas with his degree in financial management and will be ready to take on the world in the Houston financial district! Let's Go!
John Patrick Raftery, or JP to the rest of us, was the linchpin of this team over the past four years. JP was a co-captain this year with Jubal and has been a de facto leader on this team since his freshmen year. JP was all-conference his first three years and, shooting 2-under and 6-under in his first two PL Championships, was runner up at the Patriot League Championships in both his freshmen and sophomore season. JP owns the single season and combined-season scoring averages in Bucknell Golf history. JP's stellar play over the past four years has been nothing short of amazing, and he was recognized for this achievement with the Bison Club Award at the senior awards dinner. JP has also been selected for the Cleveland/Srixon All-America Scholar award and will be sorely missed here at Bucknell.
I've said it before but I'll say it again, I'm going to miss these guys.
Coach
Jubal Early
Second Team All-Patriot League, 2016
4-time Patriot League All-Academic Honor Roll
2-time Team Captain – (2017-2018), (2018-2019)
(1) Top-5 tournament finish
(3) Top-10 tournament finishes
Bucknell Athletics Robert A. Latour Service Award Winner – 2019
Cleveland/Srixon All-America Scholar - 2019
Connor O'Brien
Second Team All-Patriot League – 2018
Co-Medalist, Dartmouth Quechee Club Intercollegiate -- 2018
4-time Patriot League All-Academic Honor Roll
Cleveland/ Srixon All-America Scholar – 2018, 2019
Patriot League - All-Academic team -- 2018, 2019
(3) Top-5 tournament finishes
(6) Top-10 tournament finishes
Ashton Radvansky
Four-time Patriot League Academic Honor Roll
George V. McGee Investment Scholarship Winner
Chair of Freeman College of Management Student Advisory Board
Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC)
Order of Omega (Greek Life Honor Society)
Alpha Lambda Delta (Honor Society)
Mortar Board (Honor Society)
JP Raftery
First Team All-Patriot League – 2016, 2017
Second Team All-Patriot League – 2018
Patriot League Championships Runner-Up – 2016, 2017
Patriot League Rookie of the Year – 2016
Patriot League All-Academic Team – 2017, 2018
Cleveland/ Srixon All-America Scholar – 2018, 2019
Bucknell Athletics Bison Club Award Winner – 2019
Bucknell Season & Career Scoring Average Records
(6) Top-5 Tournament finishes
(6) Top-10 Tournament finishes
Team Captain (2018 – 2019)
Players Mentioned
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