NESHANIC STATION-The Rider University golf team finished tied for seventh place out of 12 teams at the 18-hole Peacock Golf Invitational Monday afternoon.

Rider shot a 309 in the competition that was held at the par 72, 6,645 yard Neshanic Station Golf Club.

"We had another good day today," said head coach Bob Whartenby. "Our scores are slowly but surely improving. Even with the poor, rainy, wet and cold conditions we posted a semester low 309."

For the Broncs, sophomore James Buttermark (Staten Island, N.Y./Monsignor Farrell) shot a three over par 75, including a 35 on the front nine holes. Buttermark tied for 17th place out of 64 golfers.

"James score could have been a ton lower," Whartenby said. "He missed a lot of makeable putts for birdie. With a little work on his putting he can really be a contender at MAACs."

Also for Rider, junior Chris Foster (Pittsgrove/Schalick) tied for 26th place after shooting a 77, including a back nine score of 36.

Senior Chris Wolak (Issaquah, Wash./Hopkinton) tied for 32nd place after a 78, freshman Luke Liddell (Philadelphia, Pa./Father Judge) finished tied for 39th (79) and freshman Cole Clark (Califon/Voorhees) tied for 44th after an 80.

Saint Peter's won the tournament with a 289, followed by Iona (290), Fairleigh Dickinson (297), Fordham (303), Manhattan (303) and Monmouth (307).

Rider finished tied with Hofstra and Colgate (309), followed by Central Connecticut (311), St. Francis (NY) (315) and Wagner (317).

Rider completes the spring season at the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference championships, April 27-29 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.

"I'm really looking forward to getting to MAAC's," Whartenby added. "As a team we are really starting to play better. We just need three consistent scores to really contend."

-RU-