Bryant takes DI title in shortened NEIGAs

BULLDOGS TAKE DIVISION I CROWN AT 78TH ANNUAL NEIGA CHAMPIONSHIPS, BUSCHMANN TAKES SECOND AFTER ONE-HOLE PLAYOFF

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – The Bryant University golf team concluded its 2012 fall season as the Division I Champion of the 78th annual New England Intercollegiate Golf Championship, besting Providence College by a single stroke in a tournament shortened to 18 holes by the impending threat of Hurricane Sandy.

No overall tournament champion was crowned, as 35 teams from all three NCAA divisions played on two different courses at The Captains Course in Brewster, Mass. Rather, winners were declared in each division, with the Bulldogs carding a 316 to finish sixth overall and tops among the DI squads.

Bryant was led by rookie Kyle Buschmann (East Haddam, Conn.), who was defeated by Holy Cross's Peter Cahill in a one-hole playoff for the individual title. Both players shot a four-over 76 on the Port Course and finished in a six-way tie for sixth among all 171 participants on the combined courses.

Conor McGovern (Darien, Conn.) finished sixth among all Division I players and tied for 26th overall at the conclusion of 18 holes, shooting a 79 on the Port Course. Freshman Joe Walp (Portland, Maine) finished one stroke behind McGovern to take 40th in the field.

Zach Garbacik (Hadley, Mass.) carded a nine-over 81 in Sunday action to finish in a knot for 51st, while Brendan Allen (Chelmsford, Mass.) wrapped up the Bulldog participants with an 83 to tie for 78th overall.

UMass Lowell and St. Anselm each shot a tournament-low 311 to tie for the DII championship on the Starboard Course and earn the top score in the 35-team field, while UMass Dartmouth took the DIII crown, shooting a 312.

Determining the Division II individual winner took a three-way, two-hole playoff, with UMass Lowell's Harry Hulme coming out on top. The trio shot a three-over 75 to finish at the top of the overall individual leaderboard. Nichols's Kevin Wheeler defeated UMass Lowell's George Gilmore in a one-hole playoff for the DIII individual championship, after the pair also shot a three-over 75 in the 18-hole loop.

The Bulldogs return to action this spring. Check www.bryantbulldogs.com for more news, notes and schedule updates.