April 19, 2008

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - After finishing the opening 18 holes in a tie for first place, the St. Bonaventure golf team struggled in its second round of the day finishing in a tie for eighth place after day one of the Rutherford Intercollegiate at Penn State University Blue Course on Saturday.

The Brown and White fired a combined four-man score of 286 (+2) in the first round, but responded with a 311 in the final 18 for a two-round score of 597. The course measure's over 7,200-yards and is a par 71.

The host Nittany Lions posted a pair of 286s to finish in first at 572. Miami of Ohio sits in sole possession of second place at 583, while Ball State and Hartford are tied for third at 590. The Bonnies are just two strokes back of Ohio and Akron (597), who are tied for fifth.

For the third straight tournament, senior Ryan Swanson finished the first day in the field's top 10. Swanson is tied for fourth place after carding a one-under par 70 and finished at even par (142) after a one-par 71 in round two. Swanson recorded 28 pars and finished the par 4s at two-under for the day.

Freshman Chris Stoddard carried over his play from last weekend with a 72-78/150 to finish in a tie for 20th. The other three Bonnies all finished in the 70s but failed to break 80 in the second round. Senior Andy Whalen shot a one-under par 70 in the opening 18, but struggled mightily in the second round with an 84. Whalen ranks second amongst the field in par 5 scoring at four-under. Junior Brennan Payne is tied with Whalen at 154 after carding 74 and 80. Sophomore Nathan Peck's 76 wasn't recorded in the opening 18, but his second round 81 was.

St. Bonaventure will tee-off on Sunday at 8:45 a.m. for the final 18 holes of the tournament. The Bonnies will be paired with Bowling Green and Francis Marion University.