March 12, 2007 - at Lonnie Barton Invitational - Day One
March 12, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Men's College Golf
Rider 11th of 12 at Lonnie Barton-Day One
BLUFFTON, SC--The Broncs began their spring season at the third annual Lonnie Barton Memorial tournament Monday. After the first day of the two-day, 36-hole event, the Broncs are in 11th place with a 337. “I think some of the guys knocked a bit of the rust off in our first competitive round of the season,” said acting coach Brian Keane.
Sophomore Eric LeFante (Colts Neck) shot a team-best 76 on the par 72 Oldfield Golf Club course, and is currently ninth overall among the 60 competitors. “Eric played well,” Keane said. “He has a very good swing, technically, and a great work ethic. After the round today he stayed another three hours on the range hitting balls.”
“Considering it was our first competitive round in a while I felt pretty good,” said LeFante, a transfer from Maryland who is majoring in Finance at Rider. “My irons were the best part of my game today. I was a little rusty on the front nine, but I was able to collect a couple of birdies on the back nine.”
Also for Rider, freshman Bradley Yocum (Brodheadville, Pa./Pleasant Valley) had an 83, senior Matt Ringen (Pompton Plains, N.J./Pequannock) shot an 88 and senior Jeff Palmer (Bensalem, PA) shot a 90.
“I was especially proud of Brad,” Keane said. “He had a poor front nine but came back and had a very good (37) back nine.”
Rider junior Tyler Brewington (Orangeville, PA/Benton), Rider's top golfer in the fall, was forced to withdraw due to a sprained ankle suffered last week. “Tyler suffered a high ankle sprain last week, and the trainers said most people can’t even walk for a week or two with that injury,” Keane said. “The fact that he gave it a shot, and was just two over par after nine holes says a lot about him. He re-aggravated the injury on the fourth tee and by the time he finished the front nine he couldn’t go on.”
Freshman Kevin Krecicki (Hamilton/Nottingham) played as an individual and shot an 80, but his score did not count in the Rider team score.
Play continues with 18 holes on Tuesday. “I had a 70 at Bucknell in the fall, as well as a 72 at Cornell and a couple 74s in the fall,” LaFante said, “so I feel I could do better than the 76. I see myself shooting a better score than that tomorrow.”
“I expect us to play better tomorrow,” said Keane, a 1999 Rider grad who is filling in this weekend for first-year head coach Bob Whartenby.
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