College Golf
Rider in Florida at MAAC Championships
Orlando, Fla.--The Rider University men's golf team will compete in the 2011 Metro Atlantic Athletic Championships, hosted by Disney's Magnolia Golf Course in Orlando, April 29-May 1.
The 54-hole tournament will feature three rounds on the par 72, 7,190 yard course.
Freshman James Buttermark (Staten Island, N.Y./Monsignor Farrell) is averaging 79.54 for the season and enters MAACs coming off a 26th place finish at the Mount St. Mary's Invitational.
Current senior Brent Wolgast (Bay City, Mich./Pendleton) had a final round 75 as a junior, finishing 11th, 10 shots out of the lead. Wolgast had eight birdies (third best in the field) and finished sixth overall in par three scoring (3.33). On the season, Wolgast is averaging 79.46 with a low round of 76 this season.
Senior Brian Accorsini (Hopkinton, Mass./Hopkinton) scored a 73 on the final day at MAACs as a junior to finish 26th. Accorsini improved 10 spots in the final standings over the final 18 holes and had the fifth most birdies over the 54 holes with seven. Accorsini, in five tournaments, is averaging 77.85 with a low round of 70 at the Cornell Invitational, placing 19th. In 2008, Accorsini's rookie season, he shot 221 (77-75-69) at MAACs, finishing seventh to earn All-MAAC honors. His 221 is currently tied for 25th lowest all-time at the conference championships.
Current junior Chris Wolak (Issaquah, Wash./Hopkinton) had a final round 75 at MAACs and was 13th as a sophomore. Wolak enters play with an average score of 81.38 in 13 rounds with a low round of 74 at the Rutgers Invitational in the fall of 2010.
Senior Jordan Wycoff (Fort Washington, Pa./Saint Stephen's Episcopal) was 16th at MAACs in 2010 and is averaging 81.85 for the season.
Sophomore Chris Foster (Pittsgrove/Schalick) was named to the MAAC All-Academic team on Thursday night. A Communication major, Foster compiled a 3.44 grade point average.
It was also announced that ESPN will produce and air highlight shows following each day of the championships. The highlights will also run on the video screens at the ESPN Wide World of Sports complex and in Disney's hotel properties during the championships.
The highlight shows will include action from each round, interviews with coaches and student-athletes, and utilize ESPN's Master's graphics package. Direct links to the videos will be posted in the daily recaps and on the MAAC golf championship page.
"The expansion of the MAAC's business relationship with Disney Sports Attractions and its ESPN3 studios located at the complex demonstrates the added value of the league's hosting commitment through increased branding and better service to our student-athletes, fans and member schools," notes MAAC Commissioner Rich Ensor. "Mike Colangelo, Manager-Sports Broadcast Operations at ESPN Wide World of Sports, has brought innovative packaging, presentation and his personal enthusiasm to making this new broadcast venture work for MAAC men's and women's golf."
The highlights will be available on MAACSports.com following the completion of the rounds on Friday and Saturday. The complete review show will be available to ESPN subscribers via the ESPN Video On Demand Channel beginning early next week and will also be available on MAACSports.com.
In 2010, head coach Bob Whartenby led Rider to a third place finish (302-312-300), with the Broncs shooting 914, 10 strokes behind champion Loyola.
Then senior Eric LeFante (Colts Neck) shot 226 (73-76-77) to finish tied for fifth, earning All-MAAC and All-Region honors at the 7,038 yard, par 72 Celebration golf course.
Rider was sixth at MAACs in 2009 after a runner-up finish in 2008.
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