Rye High Graduate Leads Bucknell to Tournament Win

Spearheaded by a career-best performance from 2006 Rye High School graduate Jeff Pike, the Bucknell men’s golf team won the Bucknell Invitational September 13 in Lewisburg, Pa., at the school’s golf club. The Bison finished 14 strokes ahead of second place Canisius.
Pike’s 4-under-par 136 earned him the individual title by two strokes. It was the first medalist honor of the junior’s career, and his first-round 67 on the par-70 course ranks fifth-best all-time for the Bucknell program.
“It was a big win for us,” said the junior. “We all put in a lot of work this summer, so it’s great that we were able to finish the first tournament of the year on a positive note.”
Pike wasn’t the only local golfer to excel at the Invitational. Junior Brian Bartow, a 2006 Rye Neck graduate and one of Pike’s best friends, finished in a tie for third with a 3-over 143. Mamaroneck’s Andrew Cohen, also a junior at Bucknell, placed 10th by shooting a 7-over 147.
After the Bison faltered in the Patriot League Tournament at the end of last season, the Sound Shore trio knew it was their turn to take over the reins of the team.
“The three of us were constantly in touch over the summer,” said Pike. “We’d see movies and play golf together all the time. It’s nice because it allowed us to be closer and then to push each other on the course. You always want to one-up your buddy, so it makes for great competition.”