MITCH RIPORTELLA | Staff Reporter
The Butler men’s golf team began its season over spring break at the two-day Bulldog Invitational tournament in Jacksonville, Fla.
The men had a strong showing in their second outing of the season, beating nine other teams to win the tournament.
The Bulldogs ended the first day with the lowest tournament team score of 303, and did not look back. The team cruised through the second day of competition with a 305, giving them a 608 tournament team score—fourteen strokes better than second-place Savannah State.
Leading the Bulldogs was freshman Joey Arcuri, who shot a tournament low 70(-2), in the first day of competition. He would end the second day with a 73(+1) to finish one under par for the tournament. The freshman finished 6 strokes ahead of Savannah’s runner-up, Scott Rodgers. Arcuri was the only golfer in the tournament to post a sub par round.
Also cracking the top ten for the Bulldogs were sophomore Brigham Stewart at fifth place and senior Matt Vitale tied for ninth.
Stewart posted rounds of 77 and 76, to put him at nine over par for the tournament. Vitale finished with rounds of 81 and 76, making him 13 over par over the two days.
The Bulldogs took an 11-day hiatus before competing Monday in the Butler Spring Invitational at Prestwick Country Club.
Butler finished fourth out of five teams, as the Bulldogs battled the elements in the shortened tournament. The event was scheduled as a two-day tournament, but Tuesday’s rounds were canceled due to the weather.
Junior Andrew Eiler was the lone Bulldog to make it on the leaderboard, finishing in a six-way tie for third after shooting a 73. Robert Morris’ Dan Maier was awarded the third place trophy after beating out Eiler and the other four golfers in a tiebreaker.
Having solid rounds for the Bulldogs were junior Logan Holt, who tied for 16th overall after shooting a 76, and Vitale, who finished in 24th with a 78.
The Bulldogs next tournament will be next week when the team will travel to Pennsylvania for the Villanova Invitational on March 31- April 1.
Following a fifth place finish at the Butler Florida Invitational on March 13, the Butler women’s golf team was back in action Saturday with a dual meet victory over the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. The Bulldogs edged out the Phoenix 315-327, giving the team its first dual victory of the season. Leading the women was senior Ali Restaino, who shot a competition best 75, beating out Green Bay’s Sammi Grunder by two strokes, claiming the individual first place honors.
Also placing for the Bulldogs were Juniors Jenna Peters and Isabella Lambert, who shared third place, both shot a 79.
Butler sophomore Nicole Johnson tied for fifth with an 82, and freshman Megan McCambridge finished eighth overall.
The women were back at it Monday, taking the women’s team title in the Butler Spring Invitational.
The tournament was also shortened due to the weather, and only one round was played.
Peters and Lambert were once again unable to best each other, sharing fourth place honors at five over par at the 71-par Prestwick Country Club. Peters has led the Bulldogs in every outing of the season thus far.
Butler shot a team tournament score of 313, squeaking out first place by one stroke in front of Cleveland State and Chicago State, who tied at 314.
The women will be back on the course April 8 at Crooked Stick Country Club in Carmel, Ind. for the Big Four Classic.
