March 11, 2010

Center Valley, Pa. - Defending Patriot League Golf champion Bucknell has been selected to win the title again in 2010, according to a poll of the League's head coaches and sports information directors heading into the spring season and Patriot League Championship on April 24-25 at Seven Oaks Golf Course in Hamilton, N.Y.

The Bison were selected to win the title by nine voters, as the head coaches and sports information directors were not allowed to vote for their own school. Bucknell led all schools with 69 points to go with their nine first-place votes, while Navy followed with 62 points and the remaining five first-place votes. Army came in third with 52 points, while Lehigh (34), Colgate (32), Lafayette (28) and Holy Cross (17) round out the predictions.

Bucknell put together a strong fall season, winning its own 14-team invitational while placing second in the fields at Colgate, Cornell and Lehigh. The Bison won last year's championship at West Point by five strokes over Navy, with the biggest contribution coming from Andrew Cohen. He set a Patriot League Championship record with a score of 208, and is now in his senior season with a Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year and three All-League selections already to his name. Brian Bartow is also back after earning Second-Team All-League honors last year, and was the Patriot League Golfer of the Month in September. A third senior, Jeff Pike, also has a Golfer of the Month honor to his credit from September 2008. The Bison begin their spring at the William & Mary Intercollegiate on March 22.

Navy is the only Patriot League team that has already opened spring competition, hitting the course at the Johnny Palmer Invitational and Charleston Shootout in recent weeks. The Mids had a strong start to their fall season, winning the Rehoboth Beach Invitational and placing second at the Navy Fall Classic in September. Sophomore Peter Reilly is back for the Mids after earning the Patriot League Rookie of the Year award and an All-League honor in last year's Championship. Junior Ben Hayes was named Patriot League Rookie of the Year in 2008 after finishing third in the Championship, but did not compete last spring.

Army will once again be led by junior Matt Krembel, who finished in second place to Cohen in last year's Championship to take All-League honors for the second time in as many seasons. He finished in the top 10 of all four of Army's events in the fall, with a first-place finish at the Mulekicker Fall Classic at West Point. Sophomore William Park was also a Second-Team All-Patriot League honoree last year, while James Raymond finished in a tie for 11th in the League Championship field. Army opens its spring season on Monday at the Pauma Invitational, with Head Coach Lt. Col. Robert Kewley taking over for the spring.

Lehigh has two players back who have earned Patriot League honors. Junior Duncan Zeiders was a Second-Team All-League finisher last season, while senior Steve Suarez won First-Team All-League honors and the Rookie of the Year award in 2007 before finishing 12th and 11th, respectively, in the last two Patriot League Championships. The Mountain Hawks begin their spring season on Friday at the Coca-Cola Intercollegiate in Savannah, Ga.

Colgate is also under the direction of a new coach, with Robert Cornell taking over for the spring to prepare the Raiders for the Patriot League Golf Championship at their home course. Senior David Ake won the most recent Patriot League Golfer of the Month award in October, while sophomore Ben Jessen is also expected to be a contender in the League Championship. Colgate opens its spring season on Wednesday at the Dutch Desert Shootout in Chandler, Ariz.

Despite being picked sixth in the poll, Lafayette has a couple of top players back in the fold. Junior Tyler Ostrovsky finished third in last year's Patriot League Championship to take home All-League recognition for the second straight season. Sophomore Rob Robertson won Patriot League Golfer of the Month honors last March, while classmate Carter Rufe carded a second-place finish at the Lehigh Invitational. Lafayette begins its spring schedule on Monday at the University of the Redlands.

Holy Cross has multiple players back that competed in last year's Patriot League Championship, including James Widman and Colin Andrade. The Crusaders open their spring at the George Washington Invitational on March 19.

For a full Patriot League Golf schedule, click here

2010 Patriot League Golf Poll

1. Bucknell, 69 points (9 first-place votes)
2. Navy, 62 points (5 first-place votes)
3. Army, 52 points
4. Lehigh, 34 points
5. Colgate, 32 points
6. Lafayette, 28 points
7. Holy Cross, 17 points