October 2, 2005 - at Leo Keenan Golf Invitational (St. Bonaventure) - Day One

October 2, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

College Golf

Rider 14th of 15 at Leo Keenan Invitational (St. Bonaventure)

OLEAN, N.Y.-- You drive for show, and you putt for dough.  For Rider senior Jeff Palmer, he’s putting just to make the cut.

The Broncs have four golfers who compete each weekend for Rider. The fifth spot is fought for every week by another handful of golfers. For the second time this season, and just the second time in his career, Palmer won the qualifier and made the trip.

Palmer shot a 75 on the par 70 Bartlett Golf Course to lead the Broncs and is in 31st place out of 80 golfers.  “Jeff’s on fire,” said Rider head coach Chet Dalgewicz.  “He won the qualifier this week and made the trip and really lit it up today. He did an awesome job for us.”

“Actually, I’m not hitting the ball all that well,” said Palmer, who is making just his second trip to a tournament for Rider in his four years on the squad.  “But I’m putting real well. I made a 20 footer for par on the seventh hole today.”

Rider shot a 309 Sunday and is currently in 14th place at the 15-team Keenan Invitational, hosted by St. Bonaventure.

Sophomore Tyler Brewington (Orangeville, PA/Benton), who was the tournament medalist in 2004 with a two-day total of even par 140 (71/69), shot a 78 on Sunday, as did sophomore Dylan Maxey (Montrose, Pa./Montrose) and senior Jonathan Kent (Doylestown, Pa./Central Bucks West).  All are tied for 56th.

Sophomore Josh Krumholz (Reading, Pa./Gov. Mifflin) shot an 80.

Play continues Monday. “I’m really looking forward to tomorrow,” said Palmer. “I know I can hit better than I did today. I have hit better in the past, but I switched putters this year and that has really improved. Now if I can hit the way I used to, and putt the way I did today, I’ll be in good shape.”

Team standings:
1.  St. Bonaventure        282
2.  Drexel                        289
3.  Niagara                     295
     Youngstown               295
    Cornell                       295
6.  Bucknell                    297
     Binghamton              297
8.  Robert Morris           299
     Duquesne                 299
10. St. Bonaventure B    302
11. St. Francis-PA          303
      Long Island              303
13. Seton Hall                307
14. Rider                       309
15. Canisius                  310

-RU-