The men’s golf program here
at Bucks is full of intensity.
With two seasons packed with
games against different
schools and two different
leagues of play, the team has
plenty of action to reflect on
and look forward to during the
off-season.
The fall season began on
Sept. 1 with Bucks facing
Lehigh-Carbon Community
College. Overall, there were
six games throughout the regular
season followed by the
Eastern Pennsylvania
Collegiate Conference (EPCC)
Tournament match and a final
Pennsylvania Collegiate
Athletic Association State
Championship (PCAA) that
consists of several games.
“The fall always gets us in
shape for the spring; we played
great in the past two fall seasons,”
Scott Bradshaw, the
coach of the Bucks men’s golf
team, says as he discusses the
team’s efforts this past season.
“We qualified for states in the
latest fall season, which is a
great achievement in itself.”
With the recent end of the
fall 2010 season, Bucks men’s
golf is in the off-season before
the start of the spring season.
When asked if there is still
activity in the off-season
Bradshaw replies, “I use this
time to check on my returning
player’s grades to make sure
they are keeping up academically.”
The fall of 2009 proved to be
very successful for the team.
Bucks men’s golf took first
place in the Eastern
Pennsylvania Conference
League Tournament. The team
ended the state tournament in
second place, being edged out
by Potomac State University
(the only four-year school to
compete in the league) in the
Pennsylvania Collegiate
Athletic Association.
An interesting facet of the
golf program is that they play
two seasons a year. The fall
season is dedicated to the
EPCC. The spring season,
which is part of the National
Junior College Athletic
Association (NJCAA) is more
competitive and encompasses
more schools. In the NJCAA
each team plays in hopes of
winning the national title.
The last time Bucks won a
national title was in the spring
of 1999, an accomplishment
that Bradshaw hopes to return
to in the upcoming season.
Bradshaw has nothing but
excitement and positive words
about his team. “The players
are what really make each season
great. I’ve kept in touch
with some of my players who
have gone on to pursue a career
in golf. Getting to know everyone
on the team and helping
them to become better people
is one of the gifts of the program.”
One notable player on the
team is Pete Carter, who finished
this past season 16th in
the state. He has also previously
been ranked 60th in the
nation. Carter played on the
state tournament team alongside
Scott Simon, Brian Rodda
and Christian Bleiler.
When asked if any of the last
season’s players would be
returning for the upcoming
spring 2011 season Bradshaw
replied, “It’s tough to say. I
already know that Pete Carter
and Scott Simon will not be
returning. Because Bucks is
only a two-year school many
students do not return for various
reasons; moving on to a
four-year college, beginning to
work at a new job, or simply
just dropping out of school are
all things that happen quite frequently.”
However, the future is not
bleak for the team. “Our golf
program is lucky to have many
students involved every year.
Many new students show interest
by coming to practice,”
Bradshaw says optimistically.
A bonus of playing for the
men’s golf team is the opportunity
to play at many renowned
courses in (and out of) the
state. Bradshaw recalls the top
ones: “The spring season contains
the best courses around
here. The team competes at
places such as Baywood
Greens in Longneck, Del.,
Deerwood Country Club in
Burlington Township, N.J., and
our home course – Five Ponds
Golf Course in nearby
Warminster, Pa.”
Bradshaw expressed concern
for the different sports teams
here at Bucks.
“Because of the school’s
two-year commuter school status,
I feel that many people
aren’t informed enough about
our athletic programs. I would
love for our teams to get more
exposure and hopefully catch
the attention of a wider student
body here.”