APALACHIN, N.Y. – An outstanding final round of 8-under par Monday helped the St. Bonaventure golf team race up the leaderboard and finish in a tie for second at the Matthews Auto Invitational held on the The Links at Hiawatha Landing.

At the head of the charge for the Bonnies was sophomore Michael Bucko who shot a career-best 5-under 67 in the final round under ideal early fall conditions Monday. The Johnson City native opened the tournament with 1-under 71 on Sunday and his 6-under total of 138 put him in a tie for fifth overall, three shots off the winning total of 135 from Mount St. Mary's Devin Smith.

Bucko's effort also ties him for the fifth-lowest 36-hole score in Bonnies tournament history. 

Villanova captured the team title with a 5-under winning score of 571 for the 36-hole tournament, just two shots ahead of St. Bonaventure and host Binghamton who tied for the runner-up spot. Lehigh was one shot back in fourth while Monmouth took fifth at 575 in a crowded leaderboard.

St. Bonaventure opened the day in seventh after posting 293 for the opening 18. 

In the final round, though, the Bonnies had four counting scores of 72 or better – in addition to Bucko's sparkling round of 67, graduate student Lance Sininger bettered his opening round by four strokes as he also found red numbers with 2-under 70. Senior Jude Cummings carded 1-under 71, five shots better than Sunday, while Caleb Decker matched his strong opening round of even par 72 with the same score in Monday's finale.

Monday's 280 team score ties for fourth in Bonnies history for best 36-hole total. 

Sininger (74-70) and Decker (72-72) tied for 13^th on the individual leaderboard with a 144 tournament total while Cummings (76-70/147) tied for 30^th. Also in the lineup for the Bonnies was senior Peter Byrne (76-74/150).

Bucko birdied the par-5 ninth to go out in 3-under 33, and kept it rolling on the back nine with just one bogey on his card. He finished with his sixth birdie of the day on the final hole, the par-5 18^th.

Playing as an individual, sophomore Gabe Williams finished in a tie for 17^th after 1-under 71 on Sunday and a final round 74.

Also playing as individuals were freshmen Josh James (76-73/149) and Vinny Liguori (84-77/161) as well as senior Aidan Shaw (81-79/160).

St. Bonaventure had not played in the event since 2018, but continued a run of success on The Links at Hiawatha Landing – in their last four appearances in the Matthews Auto Invitational, the Bonnies have placed either first or second each time.

The Bonnies are next in action Tuesday, Oct. 10 in match play competition vs. Siena in The Murray Cup outside Albany.

TEAM STANDINGS
1. Villanova – 571
T-2. St. Bonaventure – 573
T-2. Binghamton – 573
4. Lehigh – 574
5. Monmouth – 575
6. Saint Joseph's – 586
T-7. Canisius – 588
T-7. La Salle – 588
T-7. Laval – 588
T-7. Mount St. Mary's – 588
11. Le Moyne – 590
12. Niagara – 601
13. Saint Peter's – 617
14. Ottawa – 646

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