EASTON, Pa. – Senior Michael Bucko led the St. Bonaventure men's golf team with a strong showing at the ABARTA Coca-Cola Collegiate Invitational hosted by Lafayette College at Northampton Country Club Sunday and Monday. 

Bucko finished at 1-over par overall after carding 1-under 71 in the first round and a 74 (+2) in the second round. He played the back nine at Northampton CC in 4-under-par, finishing eighth in the field of 98 players with a solid top-10 showing individually.

As a team, the Bonnies placed seventh in the 15-team field with a 36-hole total of +19 on the par-72, 6,548-yard layout. An 18-shot improvement in the tournament's final day allowed the Bonnies to jump five spots on the tournament leaderboard (307-289). 

The squad produced several standout moments throughout the tournament, including three of the 14 total birdies made on the 17th hole, which played as the most difficult on the course. 

Bonnies freshman Tyler Berkman contributed a 4-over par total for the tournament with a 78 (+6) in round one before firing a sparkling, 1-under par 71 in round two. He finished in a tie for 25th on the individual leaderboard. 

Senior Gabe Williams finished at 8-over (77-76) after recording the team's only eagle of the tournament on the par-5 11th hole in the first round, one of just eight eagles on that hole all week. Williams also birdied the par-4 ninth hole in both rounds, which played as the second hardest hole.  

Freshman Colin Barber carded 153 for the week after showing the way for the squad with a team-best, 3-under 69 on Monday. Sophomore Braddock Damore finished at 157 (81-75). 

Playing as an individual, senior Caleb Decker tied for 38^th individually (74-77/151).

Lafayette College used a 10-under-par second round to place first at 4-over-par with runner-up Towson University at 5-over-par. Drexel rounded out the top 3 with an even par second round and a total of 6-over-par. 

QUOTES FROM HEAD COACH PATRICK DAMORE 
"We had a tough first round but finished strong with a 1-over 289 during the final round. Mike Bucko led us, and Colin Barber put together his career-best round on Monday. Colin and fellow freshman Tyler Berkman really had a strong finish. Positive results from our underclassmen are a good takeaway from this tournament with A-10s just around the corner."  

UP NEXT  
On April 18, the Bonnies travel to Wiltwyck Golf Club in Kingston, N.Y. for the Colombia Spring Invitational, their last tournament tune up before the Atlantic 10 Championship from April 27-29 in Orlando, Fla. 

FINAL TEAM STANDINGS
1. Lafayette – 580
2. Towson – 581
3. Drexel – 582
T4. Fordham – 589
T4. Iona – 589
7. St. Bonaventure – 596
8. Le Moyne – 598
9. La Salle – 599
10. Hofstra – 601
11. Mount St. Mary's – 606
12. Laval – 611
13. Merrimack – 615
14. Niagara – 630
15. Canisius - 634

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