Buschmann takes third, Bulldogs take fourth at Connecticut Cup

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Backed by a top-three finish from junior Kyle Buschmann (East Haddam, Conn.), the Bryant University golf team took fourth out of 15 teams after three rounds at the Connecticut Cup in Ellington, Conn.

Buschmann repeated his round-one 70 on the second lap and carded a 74 in the third frame to finish two under par with a 214, just two strokes behind eventual winner Chris Wiatr of UConn. Classmate Joe Walp (Portland, Maine) came in tied for 18th at a seven-over 223, scoring his best round in the third on Tuesday afternoon (75-75-73).

Sophomore John Roberts (West Hartford, Conn.) finished just one stroke back from Walp to take 21st overall (75-72-77=224), while sophomore McKinley Slade (Saunderstown, R.I.)'s third round 82 pushed him back to tie for 53rd (77-72-82=231). Junior Nicholas Marotta (Orange, N.Y.) carded a three-round 234 (+18) to finish tied for 65th in the 89-golfer field.

The Bulldogs improved upon their first round score by eight strokes in the second lap for a 289 before the team carded a 304 in the final frame to finish with a tournament total of 890 (+26). UConn won the team title with an 867 (+3) while Hartford (873) and Colgate (883) rounded out the top three team finishers.

The Bulldogs' fourth-place finish topped Northeast Conference rivals Central Connecticut (fifth, 897), LIU Brooklyn (seventh, 903) and Sacred Heart (eighth, 904). Bryant is back in action to wrap up its fall slate Oct. 27-28 at the NEIGA Championship in Brewster, Mass.