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Aug. 7, 2008

OLEAN, N.Y. - Seven members of the St. Bonaventure golf team, including head coach Andy Whalen, will participate in this week's 72nd Annual Southwester New York-Northwester Pennsylvania (SWNY-NWPA) Men's Amateur at Bartlett Country Club.

Highlighted by program's newly appointed leader Whalen, five Bonnies made the tournament's Championship Flight while two made the First Flight after Wednesday's qualifying round.

Whalen carded a two-over par 72 on the course he called "home" during his four years in the Brown and White as a player, to earn the sixth seed. On Tuesday night, Whalen edged out senior to-be Brennan Payne in the longest drive challenge, lacing a tee shot to the fringe of the green on the par-4, 328-yard 18th hole.

Payne redeemed himself on both Tuesday evening and Wednesday afternoon as he won the steeplechase shoot-out, and more importantly, fired a one-over par 71 in the qualifier to earn the second overall seed. The 2004 Men's Amateur Champ, Payne is on the lower half of the championship bracket along with Whalen.

The top portion of the championship bracket features a match-up between sophomore to-be Chris Stoddard and junior to-be Bill Bergin. Stoddard earned the No. 12 seed with a 76 on Wednesday. The Jamestown, N.Y., native has had a busy summer having already played in the prestigious Porter Cup and New York State Men's Amateur. Bergin captured the No. 21 seed after finishing a 10-way tie with a 78.

Incoming freshman Kevin Lewis also found his way to the bottom half of the championship bracket with Whalen and Payne. The Rush-Henrietta High School graduate earned the No. 10 seed with a four-over par 74. Like Whalen and Stoddard, Lewis also participated in this year's New York State Men's Amateur. Payne and Lewis could meet as early as the quarterfinals, if both were to win their opening to matches.

Despite being right on the cut line for the Championship Flight, sophomore to-be Rob Smith's 79 was good enough to earn him the top seed in the First Flight. Smith will be joined by junior college transfer Kris Boyes, who also fired a 79, but was issued the fifth-seed after tie-breakers.

For complete coverage of the 72nd Annual SWNY-NWPA Men's Amateur, visit www.swny-nwpa.com.

Championship Flight - Opening Round
No. 12 Chris Stoddard vs. No. 21 Bill Bergin, 9:30
No. 2 Brennan Payne vs. No. 31 Nikkolas Shramek, 9:50
No. 10 Kevin Lewis vs. No. 23 Stephen Fitzpatrick, 10:00
No. 6 Andy Whalen vs. No. 27 Andrew Kelly, 10:20

First Flight - Opening Round
No. 1 Rob Smith vs. No. 32 Frank Higgins, 7:40
No. 5 Kris Boyes vs. No. 28 John Petruzzi, 8:10