Bucknell University Athletics
Photo by: Patrick Shanahan/Cornell Athletics
Blake Wisdom Reaches Final 16 of Wisconsin Match Play Championship
6/24/2020 3:35:00 PM | Men's Golf
LEWISBURG, Pa. -- Blake Wisdom, a rising sophomore on the Bucknell men's golf team, turned an impressive showing at the Wisconsin Match Play Championship this week at The Club at Strawberry Creek in Kenosha, Wis. Wisdom posted a 3-0 record in round robin pool play, which qualified him for one of the 16 single-elimination spots. In the round of 16, Wisdom, seeded 13th, lost his match in 19 holes to fourth-seeded Chadd Slutzky of Deer Park, Ill.
Wisdom, a native of Lake Geneva, Wis., defeated Benjamin Shafer, Andrew Sharafinski and Ryonen Faris in group play earlier in the week. Against the veteran Slutzky in the first knockout stage, Wisdom used an eagle-birdie stretch at holes 7 and 8 to take a 2-up lead. Slutzky won three straight holes to take the lead, but Wisdom twice went back in front by winning the 13th and 16th holes. Both times Slutzky answered with birdies to square the match, however. Both players parred the 18th to finish at 4-under-par 68 and force a playoff, and then Slutzky won it on the first extra hole. Later in the afternoon on Wednesday, Slutzky routed Tyler Leach 5 & 3 to reach the final four.
Wisdom enjoyed a terrific freshman year for the Bison in 2019-20, and he appeared to be in strong form when the season was cut short in March due to the COVID-19 outbreak. In his first round of the spring he shot a 6-under 66 at the UNCG Martin Downs Collegiate. He made eight birdies that day and tied the school record for low round in relation to par. Wisdom's 73.3 scoring average for the full season was second-best on the team.
Wisdom, a native of Lake Geneva, Wis., defeated Benjamin Shafer, Andrew Sharafinski and Ryonen Faris in group play earlier in the week. Against the veteran Slutzky in the first knockout stage, Wisdom used an eagle-birdie stretch at holes 7 and 8 to take a 2-up lead. Slutzky won three straight holes to take the lead, but Wisdom twice went back in front by winning the 13th and 16th holes. Both times Slutzky answered with birdies to square the match, however. Both players parred the 18th to finish at 4-under-par 68 and force a playoff, and then Slutzky won it on the first extra hole. Later in the afternoon on Wednesday, Slutzky routed Tyler Leach 5 & 3 to reach the final four.
Wisdom enjoyed a terrific freshman year for the Bison in 2019-20, and he appeared to be in strong form when the season was cut short in March due to the COVID-19 outbreak. In his first round of the spring he shot a 6-under 66 at the UNCG Martin Downs Collegiate. He made eight birdies that day and tied the school record for low round in relation to par. Wisdom's 73.3 scoring average for the full season was second-best on the team.
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Golf
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