Update from Head Men's Golf Coach Mike Binney -- November 2023
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Hello Bison Golf Nation!
Last night, the team and I returned home from our fifth and final tournament of the fall season, and I can report that the team finished the fall season outstandingly!
The Veterans Intercollegiate played at the Sebonack Golf Club in Southampton, N.Y., included 11 Division I teams and a contingent from the Veterans Golfers Association, who gathered at Sebonack to battle not only the course and other teams but some wild conditions that made for a very challenging event. To cap off the fall, our freshman phenom, Alex Creamean, posted his first tournament victory by shooting a (-4) under-par/140 total score with bookend rounds of 70/70 on a course that boasts a 75.6 rating and 148 slope. Alex outlasted the 60-man field and was the only player to post an under-par score in the second round. Congrats to Alex on his first collegiate win! The team played to a tough 4th-place finish in the 12-team field, capping off a very solid fall season. We all know we have some great golf to play in the spring leading up to our conference championships at Saucon Valley CC. To that end, the team departed for Long Island a day early and played the Grace course (in 75-degree weather) before heading to Long Island later that night.
That practice round was made possible by Bucknell Golf alum Tim Shook '86, who got us a couple of tee times and joined us for a couple of strategic holes on the back 9; thank you, Tim!
Sebonack played incredibly difficult over the 7,180-yard layout but was arguably one of the best and most challenging college events in which we have competed recently. The event was made possible by the incredible generosity of Bucknell Alum Michael Pascucci '58, who allowed the Bucknell golf program to host the event at his incredible club on Long Island. I firmly believe that not one coach or player will forget this tournament in the years to come; it was indeed a once-in-a-lifetime event.
In addition to Mr. Pascucci, Bucknell alums Ken Langone ’57, P’83, and Frank Brown ’78 supported the event and were instrumental in making this event possible, so thank you, Frank and Ken!
If that were not enough, our team was joined this weekend by fellow alumni golfers Tod Pike ’77, P’10, Chick Wagner ’76, P’07, Mickey Sinkus ’74, P’90, and Coach Jeff Ranck to play as honorary members of the team during the practice round. I don’t want to disparage them as “old guys,” but a younger contingent of golf alumni joined them, including Schuyler Stitzer ’14, John Edler ’17, and JB Thompson ’18.
The practice round was probably the toughest of the three days overall, so hats off to the 70’s crew for manning up and playing with the college kids! To cap off the night, the entire field, coaches, players, and alums were treated to a year-end feast at the Sebonack GC that was the best meal I’ve ever had at a college golf tournament, bar none.
The Veterans Intercollegiate was first played at Orange County National a couple of years back in Orlando, and then took a year hiatus, but came back strong this season with the event at Sebonack. The genesis of the event was to bring together college golfers and a group of veterans (and active duty) to cross over the boundaries of normal college golf and provide a competitive event that had an added twist on a normal college golf tournament. By hosting not only the VGA team but also fellow Patriot League teams from West Point and Annapolis, we brought together the past, present, and future military members of this great nation. Seeing them play together and against one another was a fantastic experience.
The Veteran Golfers Association team members were true ambassadors and an incredible group of guys who helped make this an exceptional event. Their coach and co-founder, Josh Peyton, was my go-to guy for making this event happen. From extra trophies and medals to pizza for the guys, Josh came through as an amazing ambassador for the VGA and the game of golf.
The VGA is a 501c3 non-profit whose mission statement is to bring the game of golf to veterans and their families, something they have been doing faithfully since 2014, and it is my commitment to include them in our event for as long as I am coaching.
Semper Fidelis,
Coach
Mike Binney
Head Men's Golf Coach
Bucknell University
mwb013@bucknell.edu
Past Newsletters:
Bison Club support is the driving force behind Bucknell Athletics. Your donations directly impact the holistic development of student-athletes from 27 Division I varsity programs who are building a foundation at Bucknell to become leaders and difference-makers around the globe. Make your gift online, or call 570-577-1771 to support your favorite Bison team today.
Last night, the team and I returned home from our fifth and final tournament of the fall season, and I can report that the team finished the fall season outstandingly!
The Veterans Intercollegiate played at the Sebonack Golf Club in Southampton, N.Y., included 11 Division I teams and a contingent from the Veterans Golfers Association, who gathered at Sebonack to battle not only the course and other teams but some wild conditions that made for a very challenging event. To cap off the fall, our freshman phenom, Alex Creamean, posted his first tournament victory by shooting a (-4) under-par/140 total score with bookend rounds of 70/70 on a course that boasts a 75.6 rating and 148 slope. Alex outlasted the 60-man field and was the only player to post an under-par score in the second round. Congrats to Alex on his first collegiate win! The team played to a tough 4th-place finish in the 12-team field, capping off a very solid fall season. We all know we have some great golf to play in the spring leading up to our conference championships at Saucon Valley CC. To that end, the team departed for Long Island a day early and played the Grace course (in 75-degree weather) before heading to Long Island later that night.
That practice round was made possible by Bucknell Golf alum Tim Shook '86, who got us a couple of tee times and joined us for a couple of strategic holes on the back 9; thank you, Tim!
Sebonack played incredibly difficult over the 7,180-yard layout but was arguably one of the best and most challenging college events in which we have competed recently. The event was made possible by the incredible generosity of Bucknell Alum Michael Pascucci '58, who allowed the Bucknell golf program to host the event at his incredible club on Long Island. I firmly believe that not one coach or player will forget this tournament in the years to come; it was indeed a once-in-a-lifetime event.
In addition to Mr. Pascucci, Bucknell alums Ken Langone ’57, P’83, and Frank Brown ’78 supported the event and were instrumental in making this event possible, so thank you, Frank and Ken!
If that were not enough, our team was joined this weekend by fellow alumni golfers Tod Pike ’77, P’10, Chick Wagner ’76, P’07, Mickey Sinkus ’74, P’90, and Coach Jeff Ranck to play as honorary members of the team during the practice round. I don’t want to disparage them as “old guys,” but a younger contingent of golf alumni joined them, including Schuyler Stitzer ’14, John Edler ’17, and JB Thompson ’18.
The practice round was probably the toughest of the three days overall, so hats off to the 70’s crew for manning up and playing with the college kids! To cap off the night, the entire field, coaches, players, and alums were treated to a year-end feast at the Sebonack GC that was the best meal I’ve ever had at a college golf tournament, bar none.
The Veterans Intercollegiate was first played at Orange County National a couple of years back in Orlando, and then took a year hiatus, but came back strong this season with the event at Sebonack. The genesis of the event was to bring together college golfers and a group of veterans (and active duty) to cross over the boundaries of normal college golf and provide a competitive event that had an added twist on a normal college golf tournament. By hosting not only the VGA team but also fellow Patriot League teams from West Point and Annapolis, we brought together the past, present, and future military members of this great nation. Seeing them play together and against one another was a fantastic experience.
The Veteran Golfers Association team members were true ambassadors and an incredible group of guys who helped make this an exceptional event. Their coach and co-founder, Josh Peyton, was my go-to guy for making this event happen. From extra trophies and medals to pizza for the guys, Josh came through as an amazing ambassador for the VGA and the game of golf.
The VGA is a 501c3 non-profit whose mission statement is to bring the game of golf to veterans and their families, something they have been doing faithfully since 2014, and it is my commitment to include them in our event for as long as I am coaching.
Semper Fidelis,
Coach
Mike Binney
Head Men's Golf Coach
Bucknell University
mwb013@bucknell.edu
Past Newsletters:
Bison Club support is the driving force behind Bucknell Athletics. Your donations directly impact the holistic development of student-athletes from 27 Division I varsity programs who are building a foundation at Bucknell to become leaders and difference-makers around the globe. Make your gift online, or call 570-577-1771 to support your favorite Bison team today.