SHEBOYGAN, Wis. – The St. Bonaventure University golf team stands in ninth place following the first two rounds on a windswept Irish Course at the Whistling Straits Intercollegiate.
The Bonnies and the rest of the field battled fierce winds off Lake Michigan, especially during the Monday's second round, while turning in a total team score of 630 following 36 holes. The Brown and White posted a total of 317 in the first round and 313 in the afternoon. Towson leads the 10-team field with a total score of 590, eight shots up on second-place Green Bay (598), while Valparaiso (602), Northern Iowa (609) and Dayton (610) round out the top five.
None of the competitors in the field of 59 players finished the day in red figures against the challenging conditions. Senior Josh Stauffer paced the Bonnies by carding a 78 in round one and an 80 in the second round on the par-72 course to tie for 31st overall with a total of 158 (+14). Sophomore Corey Long was 36th with an 82 in the first round, improving to a 77 in the afternoon round for a full day's score of 159 (+15). Graduate student Darren Simons was right behind at 160 after firing a 77 in the morning and carding an 83 in the second round.
Sophomore Patrick Sheerer struggled to an 88 in the morning, but solved the Irish Course during the afternoon to shoot a 73 for a total of 161. Just six players carded lower scores during the tough conditions of the afternoon than Sheerer's second round 73. Also in the scoring for the Bonnies was freshman Brent Morgan (80-88-168).
"The wind started blowing really tough in the afternoon and we still found a way to shoot a better score," Bonnies coach Erik Hoops said following the day's play. "I really felt good about how the guys were playing the second round, but the wind definitely cost us a few on good shots. We have one more round tomorrow and we definitely have the talent and ability to play a great round and move up."
Final round play begins Tuesday morning with a shotgun start at 9 a.m.
TEAM SCORES AFTER 36 HOLES
1. Towson - 590
2. Green Bay - 598
3. Valparaiso - 602
4. Northern Iowa - 609
5. Dayton - 610
6. IUPUI - 617
7. North Dakota State - 621
8. Loyola Univ. of Chicago - 625
9. St. Bonaventure - 630
10. Wagner - 635
---
For the latest news on St. Bonaventure athletics, stay connected on social media. Follow the Bonnies on Twitter @Go_Bonnies and get golf updates @BonniesGolf. Keep up with the Bonnies on Facebook /GoBonnies and on Instagram @GoBonnies.
