OLEAN, N.Y. – A record-setting performance from graduate student Lance Sininger helped pave the way to a seventh consecutive Little Three Golf Championship presented by H&R Block title for St. Bonaventure under ideal conditions Tuesday at Bartlett Country Club.

Sininger posted the all-time best 36-hole score for a Bonnies player, taking medalist honors following rounds of 4-under 66 and 1-under 69 for a 135 total. His effort was just two shots clear of teammate Peter Byrne who carded two outstanding rounds of 2-under 68 and 1-under 69 for a 137 total, himself nearing the top of the program record books.

Sininger, opening his fifth season with the program, surpassed the previous Bona's record by one stroke – a mark of 136 set by Andy Whalen at the James Madison Invitational during the 2005-06 season.

Byrne, meanwhile, ties the mark of 137 posted by SBU Hall of Fame member Josh Anderson during the 2006 Atlantic 10 Championship and a total posted by current head coach Ryan Swanson a year later at the NBT Bank Collegiate Classic.

As a team, the Bonnies were dominant – they were in red figures with a score of 276 in the morning round before posting 282 in the afternoon to easily clear rivals Canisius and Niagara. At 558 for the day, Bonaventure was well ahead of Niagara's 587 and Canisius' finishing score of 594.

The first round saw St. Bonaventure card its second-lowest round in school history, behind just the 272 of two seasons ago also at Bartlett vs. Colgate. The 558 winning score will also go down as the second-best 36-hole total in school history, behind just the 556 mark set in that 2022 spring duel vs. Colgate.

Sophomore Michael Bucko found red numbers in the morning round with his best collegiate effort of 2-under 68 to put himself into contention. He would ultimately finish third to complete a Bonnies podium sweep as he recorded 73 in the afternoon for a 141 total.

Sininger had it rolling from the outset, draining a birdie on the par-4 opening hole and posting 2-under on the way out. He would add three more birdies on the back nine and just a bogey on the finishing hole kept him one off a tie for the school record of 65 set by Christian Chapman two years ago in the VCU Shootout. Instead, his 66 will tie for second in the school record books with just four other rounds – two carded by Chapman, one by Whalen and another by Patrick Sheerer.

Byrne also made the most of playing on his home course, besting his previous low collegiate round by five shots with his 68 during the morning.

Fellow senior Jude Cummings finished fifth on the individual leaderboard with his day of 74-71/145.

Playing as an individual, freshman Josh James allowed the Bonnies to take the top five spots overall as he impressed with an opening round 71 followed up by 72 in the afternoon as part of his collegiate debut.

Carlos Hernandez ended the run of Bonnies by tying for fifth and leading the Purple Eagles with his effort of 73-72/145. Ian Shickling (74-72/146) and Ryan Edholm paced Canisius, with the latter carding a sparkling round of 69 in the afternoon after opening at 79.

In the afternoon, Bonnies senior Aidan Shaw also turned in his career-best round by coming in with 1-under 69.

For the Bonnies, it continued their run of dominance in the event. They now have their longest all-time Little Three winning streak at seven straight tournaments, breaking a run of six straight titles from 1992-97. In all, the Bonnies have captured 45 of 69 championships all-time over their Western New York rivals.

Head coach Ryan Swanson remained undefeated in the Little Three – he won four crowns as a student-athlete and now has led the Bonnies to the title in each season as head coach since taking over the program in 2016 after Canisius won back-to-back in 2014 and 2015.

Bona's quickly gets back to action this weekend, looking to take momentum from Tuesday's win into Saturday and Sunday tournament play at the Alex Lagowitz Memorial Invitational at Seven Oaks Golf Club in Hamilton.

RESULTS
Lance Sininger: 66-69/135
Peter Byrne: 68-69/137
Michael Bucko: 68-73/141
Josh James: 71-72/143
Jude Cummings: 74-71/145
Carlos Hernandez (NIA): 73-72/145
Alex Shickling (CAN): 74-72/146
Aidan Shaw: 78-69/147
Mike Douglas (CAN): 76-71/147
Owen Gauder (NIA) 76-72/148
Ryan Edholm (CAN): 79-69/148
Caleb Decker: 74-75/149
Gabe Williams: 76-74/150
Ben Fey (NIA): 80-70/150
Ben Hebert (NIA): 75-75/150
Velton Perry (NIA): 75-75/150
Jake Dantonio (CAN): 75-76/151
Joey Maher (CAN): 78-74/152
Ian Wagner (NIA): 78-74/152
Mikey Takacs (CAN): 76-77/153
Vinny Liguori: 76-68/154
Conor Balen (CAN): 79-75/154
Sean Barrett (CAN): 75-80/155
Ben Ramold (CAN): 79-77/156
Ian Kozlowsky (NIA): 83-90/173

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