Bulldogs, Buschmann take second at Rhody Fall Invitational

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – After three rounds of action at the Rhody Fall Invitational, the Bryant University golf team finished second in its 2014-15 debut.

The Bulldogs entered Tuesday's final round ranked second (302-298=600) in the five-team field and, despite a slightly higher 307 in the third round, would stay there with a two-day total of 907 at the Newport National Golf Club in Middletown, R.I.

Junior Kyle Buschmann (East Haddam, Conn.) held on for a second-place individual finish with a Tuesday 74, just one stroke off of the day's top number, and posted a four-over 220 for the tournament. Junior Joe Walp (Portland, Maine) vaulted himself up a place with a round-three 74, moving into fourth with a 224 (+8), while sophomore Ryan Tombs (Bedford, N.H.) dropped from third into sixth with a Tuesday score of 80 (73-74-80=227).

Sophomore McKinley Slade (Saunderstown, R.I.) carded a 79 to move up one place and finish tied for 15th overall (236), and senior Conor McGovern (Darien, Conn.) finished 24th in the 29-golfer field with a three-round 244.

Host URI came away with the team victory with an 892 and had three top-5 finishers, including the individual champion in Joseph Leavitt (218). Fordham finished behind the Bulldogs in third (935), followed by UMass Lowell (946) and Holy Cross (946), who tied for fourth.

The Bulldogs return to action in the Hartford Hawk Invitational in South Kent, Conn., Monday and Tuesday.