Golf battles elements to finish eighth at Rutherford Intercollegiate :: Bonnies return to action in two weeks at A-10 Championships

April 20, 2008

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - Entering the day just two strokes back of fifth place, the St. Bonaventure golf teams plans of moving up the leader board were nearly rained out on the final day of the Rutherford Intercollegiate hosted by Penn State.

The Bonnies battled the elements and held off Ohio for sole possession of eight place with a team score of 321 in Sunday's final round at Penn State University Blue Course.

No team in the 12-team field broke 305 as the host Nittany Lions shot 306 to hold on for the title. Penn State finished the 54-hole tournament with a 286-286-306/878. Miami of Ohio (894) finished second, Hartford (902) claimed third, Akron (907) fourth and Francis Marion (910) rounded out the top five.

St. Bonaventure shot a two-over par 286 in the opening 18 holes on Saturday, but struggled over the final 36. The Brown and White finished with a team score of 918.

The Bonnies were led by seniors Ryan Swanson and Andy Whalen. Despite a weather-enhanced 83 today, Swanson finished in a tie for 10th place overall. Swanson finished second amongst the field with 37 pars and sixth in par 4 scoring (+7). Whalen moved up 15 slots in the individual standings to finish in a tie for 23rd place thanks to the round's fourth-best score (75) of the day. Whalen went 70-84-75/229 over the two days.

The team's other three scores were all in the 80s, led by junior Brennan Payne's 81. Sophomore Nathan Peck accounted for team's fourth and final score with an 82. Despite shooting an 83, freshman Chris Stoddard finished third on the team for the weekend with a 72(+1)-78-83/233.

As a team, St. Bonaventure led the 12-team field by playing the course's long par 5s at six-under. The Bonnies carded a combined 27 birdies over the 54 holes.

St. Bonaventure will receive a weekend off before it heads south for the three-day Atlantic 10 Championship. This year's conference tournament will be held in Winter Garden, Fla. at Orange County National Golf Course.