April 26, 2008

Results

BETHLEHEM, Pa. -- If Bucknell is to win its third consecutive Patriot League men's golf championship, it will have to do so in come-from-behind fashion. The Bison dug a hole for themselves with a tough opening round, and after making up some ground with a strong afternoon showing, they enter the final round in second place, seven shots behind Navy.

Scores were high all day in windy conditions at the tough Grace Course at Saucon Valley Country Club, as only one player broke par all day. A 79 from Rahul Desai (Avon, Conn./Kingswood-Oxford) was Bucknell's best score in the morning 18 holes, and the Bison opened with a 322, their highest total of the year.

That left them tied for fifth after 18 holes, 11 shots behind Navy. But Bucknell bounced back with a 303 team score in the afternoon, paced by a a terrific 1-over-par 73 from Andrew Cohen (Mamaroneck, N.Y./Mamaroneck) and a 74 from Desai. The 303 was the best second-round total in the field, and with Navy shooting 307 the Bison pulled a bit closer and moved into sole possession of second place, 10 shots ahead of third-place Colgate and 15 ahead of Army.

Desai and Cohen are both tied for third individually at 153. Colgate's Ricky Hayes, whose 1-under 71 in the afternoon was the best card of the day, has a one-shot lead on Navy's Erich Schoen, who posted two 74s.

Also for Bucknell, Ben Mattingly (Fishers, Ind./Park Tudor) shot two 81s and Stuart Lindgren (Richfield, Minn./Richfield) shot 82-80 to stand in a tie for 15th.

Keita Aoki (Tokyo, Japan/St. Mary's International School) finished with rounds of 83 and 80, and Brian Bartow (Rye, N.Y./Rye Neck) rebounded from an early 89 with a solid 76 in round two.

Navy has a 618 total, followed by Bucknell (625), Colgate (635), Army (640), Lehigh (642), Holy Cross (642) and Lafayette (658).

Bucknell has shown the ability to come from behind as recently as two weeks ago, when it made up a 14-shot deficit and passed seven other teams in the last round to win the Lafayette Invitational at nearby Center Valley Golf Club.

Round two tee times are scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. on Sunday.