Golf team comes from behind to claim ECAC Championship :: Bonnies win fourth tournament of the fall

Oct. 14, 2007

CHARLESTON, R.I. - Entering this weekend, two of the St. Bonaventure golf team's three tournament wins this fall had come on the final day. On Sunday, the Bonnies were at it again, this time making up 10 strokes to claim the ECAC Division I Championship at Shelter Harbor G.C.

The Brown and White erased Binghamton's nine-stroke lead with a team score of 303 as the Bearcats struggled in the extremely windy conditions to shoot 317. Sacred Heart posted a 293 for the low round of the day to finish second out of a field of 14 teams.

The win is the fourth out of five tournaments this season for St. Bonaventure as it will conclude its fall schedule next weekend at the 28th Annual Old Dominion/Seascape Collegiate Invitational.

"Today's conditions were as difficult as I've ever seen," said assistant coach Ben Howe. "Winds were at 30 mph for most of the round so it made club selection really difficult. The guys showed a lot of composure because these types of conditions can not only make things difficult physically, but mentally."

Sophomore Nathan Peck posted a 78 today after a sensational three-under par 68 on Saturday. Peck was the Bonnies top finisher with a 146, good for third place. Senior Ryan Swanson was the Bonnies' low-man on Sunday with a two-over par 73. Swanson's 73 was the one-stroke off the low round of day as he finished in a tie for 13th place individually.

Freshman Chris Stoddard continued to impress, finishing in a tie for 15th place out of the 70-player field. Stoddard posted rounds of 75 and 76 for a two-day total of 151. Junior Brennan Payne posted a 152, highlighted by a two-over par 73 on Saturday, while senior Andy Whalen improved by three strokes on Sunday with a 76.