CANISIUS COLLEGE ATHLETICS
EAST AURORA, N.Y. — The Canisius golf team shot a second-round team score of 291, highlighted by junior David Hanes and his second-round 71, but it was not enough to dethrone the defending champion St. Bonaventure, as the Bonnies claimed their third-straight Little Three Golf Championship Tuesday afternoon at Crag Burn Golf Club in East Aurora, N.Y.
The Bonnies posted a team score of 576 after carding a team total of 284 in the morning session to go with a 292 in the afternoon. Canisius finished with a two-round team score of 601 after posting scores of 310-291 to place second for the third-straight year, while Niagara shot a team score of 608 (308-300) to finish in third place.
GRIFFS’ LINEUP
Hanes, the 2016 Little Three Championship individual medalist, finished first among Canisius’ golfers with his two-round score of 146 (75-71). He tied for fourth in the field and finished first among Canisius golfers for the 14th time in his 16 career events with the program. Junior Jaret Chipman finished seventh in the field with his tournament score of 149, his new career-low for a 36-hole event, and senior John Dantonio tied for eighth in the field after he shot 152 for the day.
TEAM LEADERBOARD
St. Bonaventure won the team championship with a team score of 576, highlighted by a score of 284 in the opening round. That round featured four Bonnies at par or better. Canisius’ 601 placed second after the Blue and Gold shot 291 as a team in the afternoon session. That score stands as the lowest team round for the program at the Little Three Championship history. Niagara took third with a 36-hole team score of 608. The Purple Eagles led Canisius by two strokes after the first 18 holes before posting a team score of 300 in the afternoon session.
INDIVIDUAL LEADERBOARD
St. Bonaventure sophomore Jack Geise took individual medalist honors at the 2018 Little Three Championship after he shot a pair of 71s on the day for a two-round score of 142. By winning the individual honors, the San Diego, Calif., native secures an automatic berth into the 2019 Porter Cup, which will be held next July at Niagara Falls Country Club.
St. Bonaventure freshman Erik Stauderman and Niagara freshman Tyler Edholm tied for second in the event, as both players carded two-round scores of 143.
Head Coach Todd Hummel‘s Post-Round Comments
“I was happy to see our guys play the way I know they can in the second round. This course [Crag Burn] can be a challenge, and we did a better job in the afternoon. Hats off to St. Bonaventure for winning the tournament, and to Jack Geise for earning a spot in the Porter Cup next summer.”
POST TOURNAMENT NOTES
• Tuesday’s event marked the first time that Crag Burn Golf Club in East Aurora, N.Y., has hosted the Little Three Championship.
• Crag Burn is the eighth different course in Western New York to host the Little Three Championship since 2000.
• Tuesday’s tournament marked the 65th time Canisius, Niagara and St. Bonaventure have played the Little Three Golf Championship. The event, which started in 1952 at Lancaster Country Club, has been played every year since 1981.
• St. Bonaventure has now won three-straight Little Three Championship team titles. The last team to win three-straight Little Three Championships was Canisius from 2010-12.
• This year marked the first time since the tournament moved to 36 holes in 2011 where the teams played six golfers and posted the top-four scores. In previous years, the teams played six golfers and counted four scores.
• St. Bonaventure’s first round score of 284 is the lowest team score at the Little Three Championship, dating back to 2000.
NEXT ON THE TEE
The Griffs will return to action Sept. 15-16 at the Cornell Invitational at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Course in Ithaca, N.Y. Canisius will be one of 15 teams in the field, which also features St. Bonaventure and MAAC rival Siena.
All WNY is made possible thanks to coffee and sleep deprivation.
We appreciate your readership. We like money, too.
