Bison Men's Golf Finding Creative Ways to Improve this Fall

The Bucknell men's golf team is trying to make the best of a challenging situation this fall, as the COVID-19 pandemic has forced the cancellation of the team's fall competitions. Golf's championship season is officially in the spring, but the fall tournaments are an important part of the build-up. Not only is it a chance to play in typically beautiful fall weather in the Northeast, but for head coach Michael Binney the fall season is a chance to assess his players under tournament conditions as they compete for some hardware.

The Bison have won fall events in three of the last five seasons, and a year ago they were the runner-up in each of the first three tournaments of the year at Colgate, Cornell and Dartmouth. That confidence carried over to the spring, where Bucknell turned in under-par team scores in three of its first six rounds before the season was halted in March due to the outbreak.

While there will not be any travel to tournaments this fall, Binney's eight-man squad will keep those competitive juices flowing with a number of intrasquad tournaments here at the Bucknell Golf Club. The players have been able to practice on their own in a socially distanced manner, both on the course and at the Bachman Golf Center, and over the next two weekends they will compete in their annual 72-hole qualifier.

After the qualifier, the Bison will play in team-format intrasquad events. A FedEx Cup-style points system will be in place, and at the end of the fall season team awards will be handed out.

"We're just trying to make the best of it this fall," said Binney. "We have a great golf course and a great practice facility, so even though we won't be able to travel for tournaments, there is no reason why the guys can't continue to improve on their games. We're going to be creative and find some fun but competitive formats to play. We will keep track of the points and declare a champion, and the top five will comprise our lineup for the first tournament in the spring season."

When and if the schedule resumes in the spring, Binney will be counting on his lone senior, Chris Tanabe, to lead the team on and off the course. Tanabe has already developed into one of the top players in Bucknell history, and he has his sights set on a Patriot League championship in 2021 after finishing T-9th as a sophomore. Tanabe posted a stellar 72.0 scoring average as a junior, and his 74.4 career average is second in team history, trailing only former teammate J.P. Raftery (74.0). Tanabe won two collegiate events in the 2019 calendar year, at Lafayette in March and at Dartmouth in September, and in between he captured the Pennsylvania Amateur Championship at Aronimink Golf Club.

Once again Tanabe played quite a bit of high-level golf this summer. He made the cut and finished T-25th at the Pennsylvania Open at Oakmont, and although he didn't repeat at the PA Am, he put together two solid rounds, including a 3-under 69 in round two.

"Chris is very adept at taking things in stride," said Binney. "He doesn't get too high or too low, and that makes him a good team leader. The younger guys look to him as an example of how to carry yourself. Chris was happy with how he played this summer, and I know he really wants to play this spring and go after a league title."

Dylan Ford and Jason Lohwater are the team's two juniors, and they are also two of the team's academic stars. While Ford is rounding his game back into shape after limited time on the course earlier in the year, Lohwater played competitively in his native Rochester this summer and was a mainstay in the Bison lineup a year ago. He shot 74-72-73 at the Loyola Invitational in Arizona last February and averaged 73.5 in five fall events.

"Jason is one of those guys who loves to practice," said Binney. "He is over here a lot and he is playing very well this fall."

One of the major positive developments in 2019-20 was the emergence of four talented first-year players who all have high hopes for their sophomore seasons. None had a better summer than Wisconsin native Blake Wisdom, who reached the round of 16 at the Wisconsin Match Play Championship and later played his way into the Monday qualifier for the PGA Tour's 3M Open in Minnesota. He shot 1-under 70 in the pre-qualifier to advance right on the number, and he shot 70 again in the Monday qualifier to finish T-27th in a 60-player field of mainly professionals.

Last season, Wisdom ranked second on the team with a 73.3 scoring average, which included a 6-under 66 in his first spring event at the UNCG Martin Downs Collegiate. The 6-under tied a school record for low 18 in relation to par. Only three others have done it, one of whom is Tanabe at the 2019 Dartmouth Invitational.

"Blake had a great summer, and he came back ready for big things this year," said Binney. "All four sophomores are range rats, they love to hit balls and are here at the practice facility as much as they can fit into their schedules. I expect more of the same from Blake. He had a few hiccups last year as most freshmen do, and when he eliminates those he is going to win tournaments."

Jackson Bussell averaged 74.8 as a freshman and was really playing well in February before the season was halted. He shot 71-71-75 at the Loyola Invitational at Palm Valley GC in Arizona, and he had a low round of 70 in the fall.

"Jackson played well this summer, and he is another one of those guys who is a flatliner," said Binney. "He just doesn't worry very much, and that's a great attitude to have as a golfer. He has serious game, and I would look for him to be better and more consistent this year."

Jack Gardner was off to a strong start last fall before an injury disrupted his season. He shot 73-73-71 in a T-14th finish at the Cornell Invitational, but then had to withdraw at Dartmouth the following week and struggled to get back on track. Gardner is healthy once again and after playing quite a bit in Florida this summer could be a big challenger in the team's points chase.

"I am expecting big things out of Jack," said Binney. "His family moved from California to Florida, and he played a ton of competitive golf in South Florida this summer. He was really playing well before the injury last fall."

Tennessee native Josh Holtschlag posted a 77.9 average in his debut season, with a low round of 72 at the Macdonald Cup at Yale.

"Josh played and practiced as much as possible on his home course this summer, and he is a guy who I think has one of the biggest rooms for improvement on the team," said Binney. "Josh is very talented, he has a great attitude and is ready for more."

With only one senior graduating from last year's team – All-Patriot Leaguer Peter Bradbeer – the Bison welcome one newcomer to the mix in 2020-21. New Canaan, Conn., native Max Orwicz comes to Bucknell after a stellar junior golf career. Prior to his senior year he posted a 74.9 averaged and had six top-5 finishes in Hurricane Junior Golf events.

"Max is a very cerebral player," said Binney. "He is also very laid back, and you can't tell if he is having a good round or a bad round just by looking at him. I think he is very underrated in terms of his junior golf ranking. He has a high ceiling, and he is going to be an outstanding collegiate player once he has a chance to get his feet wet."

Bucknell University Athletics

Bison Men's Golf Finding Creative Ways to Improve this Fall

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Players Mentioned

Peter Bradbeer

Jackson Bussell

Dylan Ford

Jack Gardner

Josh Holtschlag

Jason Lohwater

Max Orwicz

J.P. Raftery

Chris Tanabe

Blake Wisdom

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