October 2018

KNICKERSThe Official Newsletter of the Bucknell Men’s Golf Program NOTES www.BucknellBison.com

Notes from Coach Mike Binney Spring Season senior Jubal Early and freshman time, and 4th all-time in relation Results To Date Jason Lohwater tied for 4th to par (+1). Bradbeer had a lot of at 297 and sophomore Chris support from his teammates as Tanabe, rounding out the travel JP Raftery finished (+3), Chris squad at 299 for 6th place. Tanabe (+5), Jubal Early (+8) and The team departed Lewisburg Jason Lohwater (+14) over the for Hamilton, NY just four days 54-hole event. after wrapping up qualifying to With even less time, the team play in our first tournament of the departed campus the following season; the Alex Lagowitz Me- Thursday afternoon for 7+ hour morial Invite, hosted by Colgate drive to Quechee, VT to compete his past weekend the Quechee Club Collegiate Challenge, Quechee, Vt. Bison Men’s Golf team University. The tournament is in the Quechee Collegiate wrapped up the first half of dedicated to the memory of Alex Challenge, hosted by Dartmouth T Lagowitz, a Colgate golf alumnus College. After a disappointing the 2018 fall season with a huge September 8 tournament victory at the Quec- who tragically lost his life just 302 in the first round, the Bison Alex Lagowitz Memorial hee Collegiate Challenge, hosted one year after graduating from found themselves in solo 6th Colgate Invitational by Dartmouth College. It was Colgate in the spring of 2016. place, squarely in the middle Hamilton, N.Y. (Seven Oaks CC) the first victory for the squad this Over the course of the 2-day, of the pack. The Bison turned 11th of 17 season and has the team motivat- 54-hole event, the team finished up the heat and posted a school ed to notch a few more before the 11th of 17 teams, posting 309, record 281 in the second round September 9 291, 302 during the tournament. to pass all teams and post its first snows of winter close out the fall Alex Lagowitz Memorial freshman Jason Lohwater and victory of the 2018-2019 season. campaign. Colgate Invitational sophomore Chris Tanabe led the The team’s 281 (-7) is the best Prior to the start of the season, Hamilton, N.Y. (Seven Oaks CC) Bison with 219 (+3) during the performance in relation to par the team wrapped up 72-holes T-11th of 17 of qualifying for our first tilt of tournament, both tying for 14th in school history and was co-led place in the 90 player field. by Connor O’Brien and Tanabe, the season at Colgate’s famed September 15 Seven Oaks Golf Course. The With only four days be- who both posted identical scores tween tournaments, the Bison of 71 & 69 (-4) to tie for Medalist Cornell Invitational men battled over two weekends, Ithaca, N.Y. (RTJ GC) dealing with some soggy weather, ventured north again to Ithaca, honors. O’Brien and Tanabe’s 4th of 15 hot temps, bugs and some up and NY to compete in Cornell’s Fall performances were bolstered down golf to post some of the Invitational at the RTJ Course. by Raftery who posted a tour- September 16 best qualifying scores in recent Competing against 15 teams, nament-best 68 in the second years. the Bison finished a strong 4th round. Cook and Early shot 75 Cornell Invitational Freshman standout, Carter place, posting scores off 292, and 79 respectively to round out Ithaca, N.Y. (RTJ GC) Cook, posted a 4-under, 276, 285 and 292. Peter Bradbeer led the Bison scorers, resulting in 4th of 15 with rounds of 69, 68, 73 and 66 all Bison scorers with a 215 (+2) the Bison beating the field by five over the four rounds of qualify- performance that included a 66 strokes to take home 1st place in September 22 ing. senior captain, JP Raftery, second round performance that the 12-team field. Quechee Club Collegiate Challenge who was tied with Cook at the just missed the school’s all-time The Bison golfers have 3 Quechee, Vt. (Quechee Club) end of three rounds, posted scoring mark of 65, set by Ben outstanding freshmen joining the 6th of 12 rounds of 72, 71, 67 and 73 to Pellicani in 2005. Bradbeer’s squad this fall. Mentioned, Carter finish at +3 and in solo 2nd place. (-5) is tied for 2nd all-time with Cook hails from Cornelius, NC, September 23 The next four qualifying spots three other Bison golfers, includ- just outside of Charlotte, NC and Quechee Club Collegiate Challenge were bunched up tight between ing Peter Scialabba (2014), Ben has been ready to join this team Quechee, Vt. (Quechee Club) Pellicani (2005), and Alex Dolle since 8th grade! I first met Carter 294 and 299 with junior Peter 1st of 12 Bradbeer posting rounds of 70, (2004). The team score of 285 in and his father at the 2014 Donald 76, 79 and 69 to place 3rd. the 2nd round is tied for 7th all- Ross Junior Championship in continued on page 2 1 Notes from Coach continued from page 1 Pinehurst, NC, and have been fol- Western Pennsylvania Golf Asso- Each one of these freshmen are year; it’s just what coaches do! lowing his junior career ever since. ciation. The Williamson Cup is an exceptional student-athletes and I look forward to keeping all Joining Carter this year is Jason annual event hosted by the WPGA will do well in Bucknell’s rigorous of you up to date on our progress Lohwater and Dylan Ford. Jason that pits the best junior teams from academic setting. As a coach, I fully this fall and if you have time to comes to the Bison program via Canada to Washington, DC. expect each one of them to be an write back, please do; I enjoy the Rochester, NY and Dylan from Dylan played his junior golf impact player this season. feedback! Homewood, Alabama, just outside in the Southeast Junior Golf Tour This year marks the first time of Birmingham. (SJGT) where many SEC and ACC in my coaching tenure here that I Jason played his junior golf in players got their start. I was able will have 4 years of recruits under upstate New York but ventured to catch Dylan’s play at the famed my wing. It only happens once in a Coach Binney down to Pittsburgh last summer Bubba Conlee Junior Golf champi- coach’s career at an institution and to capture top 10 honors in the onship last summer and am excited I am very excited about the team Williamson Cup, hosted by the to have him join the team this fall. this year. Of course I say that every

The Tradition of the Fallen Hero Tribute Continues in 2018 Learning Leadership Lessons from Fallen Soldiers s I have done over the previous four seasons, I have asked each of my incoming first- year players to take on the solemn task of researching a fallen hero from our Armed AForces. I do this to give them perspective in regard to attending Bucknell, playing golf in a great program, and benefiting from the sacrifices of others. This year was no exception and I asked my three freshmen, Carter Cook, Dylan Ford and Jason Lohwater, to take on this challenge. The three warriors they researched were Naval Special Warfare SEALs, and broth- ers-in-arms. They were all killed in action on the same day, fighting a determined enemy, and in some of the toughest terrain on earth in the Hindu Kush Mountains of eastern . Their actions on 28 June, 2005 are credited with saving the life of their teammate, . As Veteran’s Day approaches, it is a fitting reminder to us all of the sacrifices made daily by the men and women in uniform in this country.

God bless and Semper Fidelis,

Pine Grove Cemetery, Lynn, United States Coach Binney (Photo by Justin Casey on Unsplash) Jason Lohwater on Lieutenant Michael Patrick Murphy Lieutenant Michael Patrick Murphy was born May 7, 1976 in Smithtown, N.Y. He grew up in Patchogue, New York, (on Long Island) and graduated from Medford High School in 1994. Murphy attended Penn State, played hockey, and graduated with honors in 1998 with a double major in political science and psychology. In 2000, he went to Navy OCS, and then graduated SEAL training in November 2001. After serving tours in Jordan and Qatar, he was deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and more specifically . While there, he was assigned to SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team 1 as assistant officer in charge of ALFA Platoon. On June 28, 2005, Lt. Murphy was leading a four-man team tasked with finding anti-coalition militia commanders. The group encountered three goat herders which they detained and then released. Shortly after, a large force met the four SEALs on the side of a steep mountain, and a fight ensued. After taking multiple gunshot wounds, Lt. Murphy know- ingly risked his life by getting into the open in order to get radio communications for backup. He was shot in the back, which caused him to drop the transmitter, but he picked it back up and calmly completed the call. Support came in the form of 16 men (8 SEALs, 8 Army Night Stalkers) in a helicopter. Tragically, the helicopter was brought down with a rocket-propelled grenade, killing all 16 men aboard. The original four SEALs continued to fight admirably, but after two hours, three of the four men had fallen. The fourth, Hospital Corpsman Marcus Luttrell, had been knocked unconscious and blasted over a ridge. With Lt. Murphy’s courageous act, Luttrell was rescued and the remains of the other men, Gunner’s Mate 2nd Class , Sonar Technician 2nd Class , and Lt. Michael Murphy, were found and recovered. Honors: , Combat Action Ribbon, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Afghanistan Cam- paign Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Medal of Honor This story is truly humbling to me. I have multiple family members who have served, and listening to their stories is always something to look forward to. Unfortunately, Lt. Murphy will not be able to share his stories with his family. This is a tragic case showing how nobody is guaranteed another day on this planet, and every day should be taken as a blessing. Everyone that serves makes sacrifices, and Lt. Murphy made the ultimate sacrifice. Thank you for your service Lieutenant Michael P. Murphy. It will be an absolute honor to be able to carry Lieutenant Murphy’s name on my bag. The selfless actions Lt. Murphy took that day is something I will think about every time I see his name on my bag. When others see the strap and inquire, it will be an opportunity to inform another person about his story, and a chance to spread the message about our troops and all of the sacrifices they make. As for golf, everybody hits shots and plays holes not as well as they know they are capable of. When I play poorly during a round, being able to look at the strap and know how relatively insignificant anything that happens on the course is will provide a valuable perspective. n 2 continued on page 3 Fallen Hero continued from page 2 Carter Cook on Petty Officer 2nd Class Danny Dietz I had the honor of researching Petty Officer Danny Dietz. Growing up in Littleton, Colorado, Dietz had a desire to serve his country from a young age. Upon his high school graduation in 1999, Officer Dietz enlisted in the U.S. Navy, success- fully completing Gunner’s Mate and SEAL training as a member of Class 232. He and SEAL Team 10 were deployed to Afghanistan in 2005. As a part of Operation Red Wings, Dietz’s four-man team was tasked with finding a key Taliban leader in the Hindu Kush Mountains. During the operation, the team was ambushed by 100-200 Taliban fighters. After a gun-battle with the opposition, Petty Officer Danny Dietz died in the line of duty. For his tremendous bravery and service to our nation, Officer Dietz has been recognized with the Navy Cross, Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, and Afghanistan Campaign Medal. The sacrifice Petty Officer Danny Dietz made is one of unbelievable magnitude. He is a hero in every form of the word. Dietz put the lives of others before himself, fought valiantly for his nation, and died to maintain our freedom. While noth- ing I do will ever be on the same scale as Officer Dietz, his service teaches me that there is always room for me to be a better teammate, friend, and person. Carrying Officer Danny Dietz’s name on my golf bag is a humbling opportunity. Every time I pick up a club, I’ll be reminded of an American hero. Each round, I’ll attempt to represent his name with honor and respect just as how he served our great nation. Golf is a minor detail in the grand scheme of life, and without men and women like Danny Dietz, I wouldn’t be afforded the chance to play this sport. Over the next four years, I embrace getting to share Dietz’s legacy with others. n Dylan Ford on Petty Officer 2nd Class Matthew Gene Axelson It is my honor to pay homage to Matthew Gene Axelson, who obtained the rank of Petty Officer 2nd class before sacri- ficing his life to protect the freedoms of the American people. Before enlisting in the , Axelson attend- ed California State University in Chico CA where he met his wife Cindy and graduated with a political science degree. He then went on to complete Sonar Technician Surface school in the Navy and was selected to participate in BUD/S (Basic Underwater Demolition Seal training). After going through all the necessary training, Axelson was assigned to SEAL de- livery vehicle team 1 and was deployed to Afghanistan in April of 2005. Operation Red Wings was Axelson’s final mission. He was assigned to SEAL Team 10 along with Michael Murphy, Marcus Luttrell, and Danny Dietz. Their mission was to kill or capture , a high ranking Taliban leader situated in the Hindu Kush mountains. The team’s position was given away by locals and a deadly engagement with Shah and his men ensued. Axelson was shot in the chest and head but continued to fight alongside his team members. Axelson then took the blast from a rocket propelled grenade (RPG) and was separated from his team due to the blast. It is reported by Marcus Luttrell that Axelson had three magazines left at the time of the blast, but when his body was found, only one magazine remained, suggesting that he continued to fire at the insurgents even after the blast. Axelson eventually died due to the bullet wounds sustained to his chest and head. Axelson was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross medal for putting the safety of his teammates ahead of his own as he provided cover fire for his teammates as they attempted extraction. Matt Axelson’s story is one that shows the sacrifice that young men akin to him make every day to make the world a safer and more free placeto live. I do not believe I will ever truly be able to understand the sacrifice that our soldiers make, but I do believe that I can do my part to support them and show the utmost respect and care. Often we get caught up in what is happening in our own lives; Matt’s story has taught me that we need to take the time to forget about ourselves every once and a while and give thanks and thought not just to the men and women who serve but to the other Americans making the Earth a better place to live. After reading and hearing about the type of man, soldier, husband, and son that Matt Axelson was, I am more than honored to be carrying his name on my bag for my four years at Bucknell University. His drive and will to learn and become a better version of himself will be something that I learn from and strive for myself. Putting others before yourself is something that came naturally to Matt and I will aim to make that something that I do every day. Every time that I throw my bag over my shoulder, I will be reminded by his name that there are bigger and more important things than me going on in our world, and to give thanks to all the men and women who serve as Matt did, selfless, heroic, and free.n Bucknell Golf Graduates Two in 2018 his past year we graduated realizes it or not, I learned as much, they will do great things in the year starter for the Bison before two seniors, JB Thompson if not more from them, as they future. being sidelined with an injury, was Tand Jack Gregor, who will be did from me. There was a steep I would be remiss if I didn’t thank the team MVP his freshman year missed by this team but who have learning curve for me coming from several other players who were and is finishing his college career gone on to bigger and better things a program as a volunteer assistant all part of this first year group; CJ at Fordham. CJ was a three- year after graduation. While they didn’t coach to being a head coach with Zachary, Dan Levin and Austin Ho- member of the squad and regular make it to the PGA Tour, they will 10 new players and they helped me nigford. Each one of these young starter before the demands of his be on the big tour on Wall Street in immensely over the course of those men were part of the Bison program Biology/Economics double major no time at all! four years together. over some or most of the last four took priority his senior year. Jack and JB have been with me JB is working for S&P Global as years and will always be a part of I started my career at Bucknell since the beginning of my ten- a product development associate, my very first team here at Bucknell. with these five men and will be for- ure here at Bucknell and to say while Jack is working for Sandler Austin, an Engineering major from ever grateful for the time and effort that I will miss them would be an O’Neill as an investment banking Indianapolis, IN played for the Bi- they put into this program. n understatement. Whether a player analyst; both on Wall Street. I know son his freshman year. Dan, a three-

3 Men’s Golf Bucknell University One Dent Drive Lewisburg, PA 17837

Remaining Fall Schedule/ Support the Bucknell Spring Schedule Men’s Golf Experience September 28-29 Macdonald Cup March 31-April 1 New Haven, Conn. (The Course at Yale) Coca-Cola of the Lehigh Valley Collegiate Invitational Hellertown, PA. (Steel Club) October 8-9 October 8-9 April 8-9 Bucknell Invitational Wildcat Invitational, Villanova, (The Bucknell Golf Course) Malvern, PA. (White Manor CC)

October 19-20 April 13 Lehigh Invitational Yale Spring Invitational, Bethlehem, PA. (Saucon Valley CC) New Haven, CT. (The Course at Yale) February 25-26 Make a donation today! Wexford Plantation Intercollegiate, April 20-21 Check out our “Make a gift” options Hilton Head, SC. (Wexford Plantation) Robert Trent Jones Shootout, Hamilton, NY. on www.BucknellBison.com. (Seven Oaks CC) March 23-24 Colgate Match-Play Challenge, Scranton, PA. (The CC of Scranton) April 27-28 Donate by clicking here! Patriot League Championship, Hamilton, NY. (Seven Oaks CC) To designate your gift to Bucknell Men’s Golf choose “other” to search for “Bison Club, Men’s Golf.” MEN’S GOLF CONTACT INFORMATION

Head Coach: Mike Binney / 570-577-3075 / [email protected] / Fax: 570-577-1660 / @Bucknell_MGOLF