College Golf
Rider 8th of 9 at MAAC Championships
Buttermark 22nd
Foster MAAC All-Academic Honors

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla.--The Rider University golf team participated at the three-day Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference championships in Florida Friday through Sunday.

After the final day on Sunday of the 54-hole tournament, Rider finished in eighth place out of nine teams after shooting 953.  Rider shot rounds of 314-316-323.

The 44 player tournament was held at par 72, 7,008 yard Magnolia Golf Course in Disney World.

For Rider, sophomore James Buttermark (Staten Island, N.Y/Monsignor Farrell) shot a final round 78 to finish with a 54-hole total of 231, finishing tied for 22nd, 19 shots out of the lead.

"Today was another tough day," said head coach Bob Whartenby.  "We got off to a great start being only a few over par after seven holes as a team but could not maintain it.  We have a really young team and the tournament was good experience for them."

Buttermark had rounds of 77 and 76 on Friday and Saturday.

Buttermark tied for seventh as a Rider rookie at the 2011 MAAC championships after rounds of 79-76-75 (230), earning All-MAAC honors for his top 10 finish.

"James played well again today but couldn't get enough putts to drop and threaten the top 10," said Whartenby.  "He's a fighter and I know he will work hard over the summer to improve his game for next year."

Freshman Cole Clark (Califon/Voorhees) tied for 30th place after an 81 on Sunday.  Clark opened with rounds of 80 and 78 for a three-day total of 239.

Senior Chris Wolak (Issaquah, Wash./Hopkinton) finished 33rd after a three-day total of 241.  Wolak had rounds of 78, 80 and 83.

"Chris Wolak played his final collegiate round today," Whartenby said.  "It was emotional on the last hole with his family watching on as he almost holed his chip shot from off the green. He was a good player and even better team captain. He will be missed."

Wolak was 13th at MAACs as a sophomore in 2010 and was 37th last season at MAACs as a junior.

Junior Chris Foster (Pittsgrove/Schalick) finished tied for 34th after a tournament total of 244.  Foster scored rounds of 82, 81 and 81.

Foster earned MAAC All-Academic honors for compiling a 3.66 grade point average as a Communication major.

To be eligible for the MAAC All-Academic Team, a student-athlete must complete two semesters at their institution and hold a cumulative grade point average of 3.20 on a 4.0 scale. 

Freshman Luke Liddell (Philadelphia, Pa./Father Judge) was 42nd after a three-round total of 258.  Liddell shot 85 on Sunday after opening with rounds of 80 and 93.

Jay Mulieri (Loyola Maryland) shot a four under par 212 and won by three shots over Dylan Newman (Iona College).

Loyola Maryland won the tournament with a MAAC record team total of 868. Saint Peter's (890) was second followed by Fairfield (896), Iona (899), Canisius (909), Siena (936), Manhattan (942), Rider (953) and Niagara (969).

Last season, Rider was eighth of nine teams with a three-round total of 977 (328-326-323).

In 2010, Rider was third (302-312-300) with a score of 914 and in 2009, the Broncs were sixth (941) after rounds of 304, 319 and 318.

In 2008, Rider was the runner-up with scores of 303-295-295, for a total of 893 and the Broncs were fifth in 2007 (921) with rounds of 306, 301 and 326.

Highlights of the third round, produced by ESPN, are expected to be available on MAAC.TV  Sunday evening.

-RU-