The Binghamton golf team concluded its fall 2006 season with a runner-up finish this weekend at their home tournament, the NBT Bank Classic, held at the Links at Hiawatha Landing. St. Bonaventure edged out the Bearcats by four strokes to win the 11-team event. Over the past four years, the Bearcats have been impressive at their annual home tournament, winning in 2003 and 2004, while finishing fourth last year.

Senior Aaron Ungvarsky shot rounds of 76 and 69, firing the only round in the 60s among the Bearcats and finishing third individually out of 64 golfers. Junior Zach Vinal tied for fourth, shooting 72 and 74; senior Jeff Wolniewicz tied for eighth with scores of 72 and 76; senior Tom Hackett tied for 15th; and sophomore J.J. Shearer tied for 17th. Despite finishing second as a team, three players finished in the top 10 and all five starters landed in the top 20.

The weather conditions in the first round were brutal, characterized by cold temperatures and gusting winds, nothing out of the ordinary for a fall golf tournament at Binghamton. But the Bearcats handled it well, leading the tournament by eight strokes going into the second round.

They also played well as a team in the second round, but St. Bonaventure responded and completed a huge comeback.

“We got hot at Dartmouth and Yale by putting up very low numbers to win both,” said head coach Nick Lasky. “Any team can get hot any given day by putting up low numbers. Since we played well as a team, we didn’t lose it, they won it.”

Because of the nature of home tournaments, many distractions came into play. But the Bearcats were not bothered by them, as evidenced by their high concentration levels and positive demeanors throughout.

“I always tell the guys that performance equals a good chance for less distractions,” Lasky said. “I thought the players handled it very, very well.”

In the final round, Shearer was seven over par through his first five holes, but battled back by completing ups and downs at six and seven and birdieing eight and nine to salvage the front nine.

“That’s what everyone loves about Shearer so much, he just keeps battling and never gives up,” Lasky said.

Hackett also got off to a rough start, making triple bogey on four holes and being four over par through his first five holes. He caught a tough break on four, landing his ball in an atrocious lie due to some leftover flood damage. But he also battled back to shoot five over 75.

“I didn’t play well on par fives, making pars on all three of them,” Hackett said. “With my strong drives I feel I can birdie any par five, which was the difference between an average and a good round.”

Captain Jeff Wolniewicz saw his score rise in the second round.

“I was very frustrated with today’s round because I hit it poorly around the entire course,” Wolniewicz said. “We played better than yesterday but St. Bonaventure played awesome and deserved the win.”

Despite Wolniewicz’s disappointment in finishing second, he did achieve a personal goal of his by winning the All-American Athlete Scholar award, given to players who have a career scoring average under 76 and maintain over a 3.2 grade point average.