Update from Head Men's Golf Coach Mike Binney -- March 2023
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Dear Bucknell Men’s Golf Alumni, Family, and Friends!
We just completed play in the Loyola Intercollegiate at the Palm Valley Golf Club, where our team battled some very strong competition in a field of 20 teams. We have traveled to Goodyear, Arizona, for this event in three of the last four years, and it is always a place where we play well. Just getting out of Lewisburg in February is enough of a motivator for us, and 75 degrees and sunny adds to the excitement of the trip.
We traveled with two seniors, Jackson Bussell and Blake Wisdom, as well as sophomore Michael Rudnick and first years Andres Barraza and James Key. All five performed solidly in the fall and earned their spots on the travel roster.
We finished in a tie for sixth place with Missouri State after compiling an 862 total for 54 holes – the fifth-best mark in team history. Utah Valley finished with a 21-under 843 for the tournament to capture the event after a runner-up finish a year ago.
Freshman Andres Barraza made five birdies on the way to a career-best, 3-under par 69 during the final round to pace us on Tuesday, while Jackson Bussell, coming off a second-round 68, closed with a 1-under 71. Bussell birdied four of his first eight holes and shot 33 on the front nine. He was our low player for the tournament, finishing T-17th with a 3-under 213 total.
In addition, Michael Rudnick shot 73, Blake Wisdom carded a 74, and James Key finished with a 78 on the final day of play. The Bucknell quintet compiled 18 birdies in round three and 46 for the tournament.
The last few years, we traveled twice before spring break, but this year our trip to Arizona was our only event in February. We head to Myrtle Beach during spring break and then have a bonus trip to San Diego for UCSD’s event at Torrey Pines North on 27-28 March before we come home for the remaining three events in the northeast before Patriot League’s at the end of April.
On behalf of the program, I want to remind everyone that a very important day is coming later this month. On 28-29 March, we will again battle with all the other athletic and recreation programs at Bucknell during the One Herd One Day giving challenge. The event has been critical in raising funds for the program, and this year we hope men’s golf can once again set new donor and dollar goals after a banner year in 2022! Last year we established high-water marks in both categories, with 71 donors and $97,837 raised. Please help us spread the word to family and friends, and if you can, support the young men in the program that day.
I look forward to another update in early April, but until then, Go Bison!
-- 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.
We just completed play in the Loyola Intercollegiate at the Palm Valley Golf Club, where our team battled some very strong competition in a field of 20 teams. We have traveled to Goodyear, Arizona, for this event in three of the last four years, and it is always a place where we play well. Just getting out of Lewisburg in February is enough of a motivator for us, and 75 degrees and sunny adds to the excitement of the trip.
We traveled with two seniors, Jackson Bussell and Blake Wisdom, as well as sophomore Michael Rudnick and first years Andres Barraza and James Key. All five performed solidly in the fall and earned their spots on the travel roster.
We finished in a tie for sixth place with Missouri State after compiling an 862 total for 54 holes – the fifth-best mark in team history. Utah Valley finished with a 21-under 843 for the tournament to capture the event after a runner-up finish a year ago.
Freshman Andres Barraza made five birdies on the way to a career-best, 3-under par 69 during the final round to pace us on Tuesday, while Jackson Bussell, coming off a second-round 68, closed with a 1-under 71. Bussell birdied four of his first eight holes and shot 33 on the front nine. He was our low player for the tournament, finishing T-17th with a 3-under 213 total.
In addition, Michael Rudnick shot 73, Blake Wisdom carded a 74, and James Key finished with a 78 on the final day of play. The Bucknell quintet compiled 18 birdies in round three and 46 for the tournament.
The last few years, we traveled twice before spring break, but this year our trip to Arizona was our only event in February. We head to Myrtle Beach during spring break and then have a bonus trip to San Diego for UCSD’s event at Torrey Pines North on 27-28 March before we come home for the remaining three events in the northeast before Patriot League’s at the end of April.
On behalf of the program, I want to remind everyone that a very important day is coming later this month. On 28-29 March, we will again battle with all the other athletic and recreation programs at Bucknell during the One Herd One Day giving challenge. The event has been critical in raising funds for the program, and this year we hope men’s golf can once again set new donor and dollar goals after a banner year in 2022! Last year we established high-water marks in both categories, with 71 donors and $97,837 raised. Please help us spread the word to family and friends, and if you can, support the young men in the program that day.
I look forward to another update in early April, but until then, Go Bison!
-- 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.