Photo: St. Bonaventure Athletics
BY WILL POLADIAN, MANAGING EDITOR
While the St. Bonaventure golf team lost to Siena, 283-276, on Oct. 10, graduate Lance Sininger shot 1-under 71, placing him tied for sixth overall and third for Bonaventure.
“The goals for the season were for our team to continue to grow as a unit after we felt we didn’t play our best after last season,” said Sininger. “So far this year we have played much better and had a lot of guys shooting low rounds to make us very competitive in tournaments.”
Sininger has placed in the top three for the team in each tournament this season, while also being the only golfer on the team to finish in first place.
“A teammate like Lance, who is playing well, is great for the team, ” said teammate Gabe Williams. “He’s elevating his game and it makes the rest of the team want to play well because we know we can compete in any tournament with Lance leading us. It has caused teammates to rise to the occasion and play well with him.”
Sininger averages 71.5 strokes per round and has a team-low 66 strokes in a round at the Little Three Championship on Aug. 29.
“I really focused on what I felt I needed to get better at this offseason, which was taking advantage of more birdie opportunities, and I felt like that is what has allowed me to play well to start this season,” said Sininger.
He earned Atlantic 10 golfer of the week honors after finishing in first place for the team and tying for 10th place in the Cornell Invitational on Sept. 10-11.
“Lance is highly consistent with his scores,” said Williams. “He is on pace to break a lot of records. It’s hard to play much better.”
Not only is he on pace to break records, but he broke the school record for the lowest-36-hole score with a 135 total at the Little Three Championship.
“It means a lot to me because it means that the hard work that I have put in over my previous years here is really starting to pay off,” said Sininger. “Hopefully I continue to play at a high level and can help the team continue to challenge for tournament wins.”
Sininger dealt with adversity in the past by way of injuries and with this being his last season, he says he is making the most of it.
“Over the last few years, Lance has faced adversity with injuries and health problems that hindered his play,” said Williams. “Coming into this year, we knew that he was healthy, and it is his last year, so I believe everyone knew that this was going to be his best season.”
He has stepped up and embraced becoming a leader.
“Lance has taken the leadership role and ran with it this year,” said head coach Ryan Swanson. “He’s been a part of some really good teams with very good players, so he has seen great leadership and great golf played and is now doing it himself. [I’m] very proud of him overcoming injuries the last two seasons and keeping [himself] 100% healthy is certainly a priority.”
Sininger and the Bonnies continue their season with the ODU/Kilmarlic Invitational on Sunday.
“I just need to continue to keep doing the things I’m doing to ensure that I’m being a leader for this team for the rest of the year,” said Sininger. “I understand the responsibility I have to my coaches and teammates and understand the level of performance that is expected of me to continue to help this team, and that’s what I’m focused on.”
poladiwj20@bonaventure.edu
