College Golf
Rider at George Washington Invitational - Day One
Broncs 7th of 9

BETHANY BEACH, Del.--The Rider University golf team opened the spring 2011 schedule in windy conditions at the George Washington Invitational Friday, shooting the first two rounds of the 54 hole tournament at the Bear Trap Dunes Golf Club in Delaware Friday.

For the Broncs in the opening two rounds, freshman James Buttermark (Staten Island, N.Y./Monsignor Farrell) had a two round total of 158 (81-77) on the par-72, 6,834-yard course and is tied for 27th out of 51 golfers.

"It was a tough day today score wise," said head coach Bob Whartenby.  "The wind was blowing pretty hard most of the day."

Also for Rider, senior Brian Accorsini (Hopkinton, Mass./Hopkinton) shot 163 (81-82) on his first 36 holes and is tied for 36th, senior Brent Wolgast (Bay City, Mich./Pendleton) had a 164 (81-83) and is tied for 38th, senior Jordan Wycoff (Fort Washington, Pa./Saint Stephen's Episcopal) shot 171 (90-81) and is 44th and junior Chris Wolak (Issaquah, Wash./Hopkinton) shot 177 (92-85) and is tied for 47th.

Rider shot an opening round of 333 and a second round of 323 for an opening day total of 656.

"We haven't much practice time yet," Whartenby added.  "The practice round was the first time the guys played since October.  So it was tough.  As long as we get the rust off, we should be ok for the rest of this tournament and the semester."

The Broncs are seventh of nine teams.

Pennsylvania leads the field (577), followed by Yale (582), George Washington (584) and Holy Cross (601).  Monmouth is fifth (603), followed by Yale 'B' (626), Rider (656), St. Francis (NY) (669) and Hofstra (692).

The Broncs placed eighth of 16 teams at this tournament in the spring of 2010.

The final 18 holes are on Saturday.

-RU-