Bucknell Bison Seek Redemption at Navy's Annapolis Course
The fairways in Annapolis are waiting. Bucknell heads south to face the wind and the water at The Goat.
The salt air hangs heavy over the Naval Academy Golf Club, a sharp contrast to the inland greens of the mid-Atlantic. Bucknell’s men’s golf team is rolling south toward Annapolis, Maryland, for The Goat, the third edition of Navy’s annual fall invitational. The course stretches for 6,970 yards, a par-71 layout where the wind off the Chesapeake Bay can turn a simple approach into a chaotic gamble. It is a physical test, one that demands precision from the very first tee.
This weekend marks the second of five fall tournaments for the Bison, a mid-season checkpoint that carries weight beyond the immediate result. The field consists of thirteen teams, including Patriot League rivals Colgate, Holy Cross, and Lafayette. Loyola, the defending champions, are absent, and Jack Tarzy, the 2025 individual winner, has graduated. The slate is cleared. There are no legacy scores to chase, only the fresh grass and the pressure of a new competition to define the weekend.
Fresh Legs and Familiar Terrain
The lineup is a blend of experience and raw potential. Senior Taylor Kuehn anchors the five-man team alongside junior Jack Hartman, sophomore Henry Bolster, and freshmen Charlie Barrickman and Brad McDermott. Conner Freedman will also compete, making his collegiate debut as an individual. For Hartman, the trip to Annapolis is a homecoming of sorts. A native of Bethesda, Maryland, he knows the local conditions intimately. This familiarity could be the edge the Bison need to navigate the tricky lies and firm fairways that characterize the Navy layout.
Momentum from the Season Opener
Bucknell arrives with confidence, having finished fifth in their season debut at Colgate. The team posted a 4-over total of 868, capped by a 1-under final round. The highlight was Charlie Barrickman, who claimed the individual title with a 7-under 209. It was a dominant performance, the first collegiate debut win for a Bison freshman in program history. According to GN sports/golf (en-US), Barrickman’s consistency was striking; he shot under par in all three rounds, ending with a birdie on the 18th to seal the victory by two strokes.
The team is hungry to replicate that momentum. Hartman finished T-14th at the opener, showing he can contend at the top of the board. The Bison are looking to build on that foundation, knowing that the Annapolis course will test their short game and their ability to manage the elements. It is a different kind of pressure than the opener, one where the stakes feel higher and the margin for error is thinner.
A New Challenge in the Bay
The Bison have played at The Goat in the last two seasons, finishing 10th in 2024 and 14th in 2025. Last year’s scores were rough, with the team shooting 313, 292, and 307. Hartman was their low man, finishing T-30th. Those results suggest the course is tough on the Bison, a layout that punishes inconsistency and rewards aggressive, yet controlled, play. This weekend offers a chance to rewrite that history.
Play begins Saturday morning with an 8:30 a.m. shotgun start. The tournament is a 54-hole stroke play event, with the best four of five scores counting for the team total. The final round will take place Sunday morning, with tee times off the first and tenth holes. The Bison will look to leave Annapolis with a result that reflects their potential, not just their past struggles. The wind is blowing, the flags are out, and the game is on.
