LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. – Junior Gabe Williams put together a career-best round of 66 and dominated The Murray Cup field, winning medalist honors by four strokes as the St. Bonaventure golf team battled Siena in the sixth edition of the event between Franciscan sister schools at Schuyler Meadows Golf Club Tuesday.

A slow start to Tuesday's round by the Bonaventure lineup paved the way for Siena to win for the third consecutive Murray Cup as the Saints held off a late Bonnies charge for a four-shot win, 280-284. Siena finished the day with an even-par team score while the Bonnies were 4-over.

Williams did not have a single blemish on his scorecard, playing the par-72 layout in 6-under par with six birdies and no bogeys. His previous collegiate best round was 69 in 2023. He played both the front and the back nine in 3-under on Tuesday, playing the par-4s in 4-under while also making birdie on a pair of par-5s.

Only two players in the field played the course under par during the tournament as Siena's Nick Lyons finished at 2-under 70, four shots back in second place. No Siena player shot worse than 2-over in their top-four as the Saints used consistency to claim the title. 

Bona's junior Michael Bucko finished in a tie for third at even par 72.

After playing at 3-over through the opening 11 holes, Bucko caught fire late, making birdie on the par-3 12^th as well as the par-4 14^th and 18^th to rise up the leaderboard.

Graduate Peter Byrne (76) and sophomore Vinny Liguori (78) were also in the team scoring for the Bonnies. Freshmen Dante Bertoni (80) and Braddock Damore (82) were in the lineup as well in the play six, count four tournament setup. 

Playing as an individual, Bona freshman Andrew Murray had a solid round of 75 to place in a tie for eighth. Caleb Decker (78) and Nick Cecchini (84) also played as individuals for the Bonnies.

St. Bonaventure won the first three editions of The Murray Cup, but the all-time series is now tied 3-3 as the Saints have evened things with three wins in a row of their own.

The Cup is named for two ardent supporters of both schools' golf programs, 1968 St. Bonaventure graduate Ed Murray and Siena trustee John Murray. While the two Murrays shared no relation, they shared a passion for the game of golf and their universities. This year's edition of the Murray Cup was the first to be played since the passing of Ed Murray who passed away earlier this year.

QUOTES FROM HEAD COACH RYAN SWANSON
"We had a slow start but battled. We got down early and fought hard to catch-up, but we just dug ourselves too big of a hole early on to get back from. It's hard to do that against a team playing on their home turf."

"It was a tremendous performance from Gabe. Proud of him; his hard work is really paying off."

"After playing back-to-back tournaments, we need a couple days off to reset and get ready for our trip to North Carolina to wrap up the fall season."

UP NEXT
The Bonnies will play in the ODU/Kilmarlic Invitational at Kilmarlic Golf Club in Powells Point, N.C. Oct. 20-22.

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