Youngstown State University
Bucknell Invitational
Christman Leads Penguins to Second-Place Finish at Bucknell Invitational
10/12/2021 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Junior Cole Christman finished tied for fifth to lead the Youngstown State men's golf team to a second-place finish on Tuesday in the Bucknell Invitational at Bucknell Golf Club in Lewisburg, Pa.
The Penguins finished with a three-round team total of 847, which ranks as the second-lowest 54-hole performance in program history. The performance is the lowest 54-hole score since YSU set the school record of 835 at the IPFW Fall Classic in 2007-08. YSU's second-place finish represents its highest placing of the fall season.
Youngstown State fired a 276 (-4) in the first round on Sunday to sit in a tie for first place following the opening round. The Penguins' first-round 276 ranks as the third-lowest 18-hole score in school history and the lowest since carding a 275 at the Joe Feaganes Marshall Invitational in 2015-16. YSU went on to post a 286 in Monday's second round and a 285 in Tuesday's third and final round.
The Penguins finished seven strokes behind the tournament champion Army in a tie for second place with Bucknell. Monmouth finished fourth with an 848 while Colgate rounded out the top five with a score of 851.
Christman carded a career-best three-round score of 208 (67-73-68) to earn his first-career top-five finish. The performance is tied for the third-lowest 54-hole score in program history. Christman's three-under-par 67 in the first round, which marked the lowest round of his career, featured 11 pars and five birdies. After beginning his round with a bogey, the junior went on to make par or better on 16 of his final 17 holes. The Boardman, Ohio, native fired a two-under-par 34 on the front nine and a bogey-free, one-under-par 33 on the back nine.
Christman's second-round 73 included eight pars and four birdies as he made par or better on nine of his final 10 holes to shoot a one-under-par 33 on the back nine. The junior's final-round 68 featured 12 pars and four birdies as he made par or better on 15 of his final 16 holes. Christman recorded a bogey-free, four-under-par 30 on the back nine during the final session.
Kevin Scherr posted a three-round score of 213 (70-73-70) to finish tied for 13th. The senior's even-par 70 in the opening round included 10 pars and four birdies as he made par or better on nine of his final 10 holes to shoot a one-under-par 33 on the back nine. Scherr's second-round 73 featured 13 pars and a birdie on the par-three No. 16. The senior's final-round 70, which matched his low round of the season, featured 14 pars and a pair of birdies. After making two bogeys over his first three holes, Scherr settled in to make par or better on each of his final 15 holes.
Ken Keller also finished with a three-round 213 (69-71-73) to tie for 13th. The senior's first-round 69, which marked his low round of the season, included nine pars and five birdies as he made par or better on 14 of his final 16 holes. Keller's second-round 71 featured nine pars and four birdies. Three of his birdies came on the front nine as he fired a one-under-par 35 over his first nine holes. The senior's final-round 73 included 11 pars and three birdies. All three birdies came over his final nine holes as he shot an even-par 34 on the back nine.
Bryan Kordupel finished tied for 20th with a three-round total of 215 (70-71-74). The senior's first-round 70 featured 12 pars and three birdies as he made par or better on 14 of his first 15 holes. The Boardman, Ohio, native shot a one-under-par 35 on the front nine during the opening session. Kordupel's second-round 71 included 13 pars and a pair of birdies as he made par or better on 14 of his first 16 holes. The senior's final-round 74 featured 13 pars and a birdie on the par-five No. 9.
Zack Ford concluded the event with a three-round 217 (72-71-74) to tie for 29th. The senior's first-round 72 included 16 pars as he made par on 11 of his first 12 holes. Ford's second-round 71, which marks his low round of the season, featured 13 pars and two birdies. The Cochranton, Pa., native made par or better on 14 of his final 15 holes while shooting a one-under-par 33 on the back nine. The senior's final-round 74 included 10 pars and a pair of birdies.
Playing as an individual in his first collegiate event, Conner Stevens finished tied for 51st with a three-round score of 223 (78-74-71). The redshirt freshman's second-round 74 featured 10 pars and two birdies as he made par or better on eight of his first nine holes to shoot a one-under-par 35 on the front nine. Stevens' final-round 71 included 11 pars and three birdies as he made par or better on nine of his final 11 holes.
Monmouth's Ron Robinson claimed medalist honors by two strokes at five under par with a three-round 205 (64-70-71).
Youngstown State will continue its fall schedule on Oct. 18-19 with the Dayton Flyer Invitational at NCR Country Club in Kettering, Ohio.
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