College Golf

Rider at ECAC Fall Golf Championship – Day 1

Buttermark 3rd of 27

EGG HARBOR – The Rider University golf team traveled down south to Egg Harbor, N.J. to take part in the two-day Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Fall Golf Championship held at the Twisted Dunes Golf Course.

The Broncs finished the first round in third place with a team score of 333. Monmouth University leads the tournament with a score of 307, followed by Fairfield (330).  St. Francis (NY) is in fourth place (334) and UMass-Lowell (337) sits in fifth place.

“Conditions made an already tough golf course play even tougher,” first year head coach Jason Barry said. “When you combine poor play in tough conditions, you're going to get high scores. As a team, we made way to many big numbers.”

Senior James Buttermark (Staten Island, N.Y./Monsignor Farrell) had the best outing for the Broncs, shooting a 77.  Buttermark is in third place of 27 golfers after the opening day.

“James hit the ball great today, but struggled with his putter,” Barry said. “This course fits his game well because it puts an emphasis on driving the ball well.”

Sophomore Tom Yarson (Montgomery) scored an 81 while freshman Sam DiGaetano (Titusville/Hopewell Valley Central) shot an 87.  Yarson is in eighth place and DiGaetano is tied for 19th.

“Outside of James and Toms' back nine, we didn't play well,” Barry said about the teams opening round.

Junior Luke Liddell (Philadelphia, Pa./Father Judge) shot an 88 and freshman Aaron Simone (Niskayuna, N.Y./Niskayuna) shot an 89.  Liddell is tied for 21st and Simone is tied for 24th.

“It was a sloppy round,” Barry said. “We're capable of a lot more than what we put up today.”

Rider will finish the last 18 holes Monday morning.

-RU-