RESULTS
LEWISBURG, Pa. – The Bison women’s golf squad counted four scores of 74 or better and saw its lead at the Bucknell Invitational swell to 13 strokes after the second of three rounds on Saturday at the Bucknell Golf Club. The Bison posted a 293 team tally – one shy of the school record – and freshman Joelle Johnson took over the individual lead after carding a 2-over-par 72.
While the Bison just missed the 18-hole team record, Bucknell’s 590 total is the lowest through 36 holes in program history. Two years ago, the team compiled a 591 (292-299) through 36 at the Bucknell Invitational.
The Bison opened the three-day, 54-hole tournament with a 297 on Friday, giving them a five-stroke edge on Patriot League rival Holy Cross entering Saturday’s second round. Bucknell widened the gap significantly, as the Crusaders dropped to fourth place with a 307. Mount St. Mary’s turned in the low total of the day with a 289 to move into second place, but the Mountaineers will begin the final round 13 shots behind Bucknell.
Johnson backed up her opening-round 73 with a 72 on Saturday. She got out to a slow start with a bogey on the first hole and a double-bogey at the par-5 third, but she played the final 15 holes in 1-under with birdies on the two remaining par-fives (9 and 15).
Johnson’s 5-over 145 total is two shots better than Manhattan’s Jayden Peters and Mount St. Mary’s Madison Knaub.
Three other members of Bucknell’s A squad are positioned in the top 11 in a 107-player field. Sophia Bardunias moved up to T-4th after carding a 73. Katherine Vice, coming off a career-low 72 in the first round, was 7-over through her first five holes on Saturday before making a sensational rebound. She played the final 13 holes in even par to grind out a 77, and she is tied for seventh place, just four shots off the lead.
Katrina von Behren and Nicole Yun both posted second-round 74s. Yun enjoyed a birdie-birdie-par finish, and von Behren was 1-under over the last five holes. She is now tied T-11th at 151, and Yun is 18th at 153.
The Bucknell B squad posted a solid 302 in round two and would be in ninth place with a 622 total. Lila Smith led the way with a 72, followed closely by Paige Richter with a 73. Richter is now T-11th alongside von Behren on the individual leaderboard. Erin Drahnak had a nice bounce-back day with a 76 after parring her last 10 holes. Freshmen Caroline Zeiger and Darcy Wright shot 81 and 85, respectively.
The third and final round gets underway at 9 a.m. on Sunday. Bucknell’s A team will be in the final groupings, with tee times ranging from 10:40 to 11:20 a.m.
