UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Two highly-accomplished golfers, Jackson Saroney and Nick Werner, have signed to join head coach Mark Leon and the Penn State men’s golf program in the Nittany Lions’ Class of 2029.
“The heartbeat of our men's golf program at Penn State has always been our strong regional base,” said Leon. “Our goal in recruiting is simple – get the best players in Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey to play for Penn State. If we can do this, we feel like we have the ideal environment for them to grow into professional golfers and make Penn State a perennial NCAA team.
“Jackson and Nick are massive additions to our program in Happy Valley,” continued Leon. “These were the top two players on our recruiting board for 2025 and we were excited for Nick and Jackson to commit earlier this summer. However, we've been more thrilled by what they have done since; they have both improved their national ranking over 100 spots within their class over the past season. These guys are grinders who aren’t afraid of a challenge, and they are ready to come in here to move this program towards the top of the Big Ten. With Jackson and Nick, we have a recruiting class that reflects the best teams and players in our program's history. We look forward to having them join us in Happy Valley to write some history of their own.”
Jackson Saroney
Syracuse, N.Y. | Jamesville Dewitt
- Played five years of varsity golf at Jamesville Dewitt High School, including eighth grade, and is a three-time All-State selection.
- Named All-CNY Player of the Year as a junior and sophomore, and a first-team All-CNY pick as a freshman.
- Three-time league Player of the Year.
- Led high school team to four-straight Section 3 Championships.
- Top finishes of junior career include:
- Optimist International at Doral 2022 Champion
- HJGT College Prep at UK Champion
- Second place 2024 TJGT “PGA Championship”
- Fourth place New York State Junior Amateur in 2024
- Eighth place at New York State Men’s Amateur in 2024
- Fourth place NYS High School Golf Championships in 2023
- Eighth place at 2024 AJGA Harold Varner III
- Fifth place at 2024 Jim McLean Jr. Championship
- Reached final stage of US Am qualifying in 2024
Leon on Saroney: “Jackson Saroney is exactly the type of young man who has been successful at Penn State University. He's a multi-sport athlete from Syracuse, NY and he hails from a family of athletes. Jackson has dominated his region in junior golf, but most impressively he has shown a willingness to get outside his comfort zone and compete anywhere he can. Whether it’s against the amateurs, or down South in the off-season, every time he's ventured outside his comfort zone he has excelled, and we love that about him!”
Nick Werner
Wilkes Barre, Pa. | Wyoming Seminary
- Top-ranked junior golfer in the state of Pennsylvania and top-100 player in class nationally according to JGS.
- Two-time PIAA Class AA State Champion out of Wyoming Seminary High School. Only seven other golfers have repeated as PIAA State Champion, one of them being Arnold Palmer.
- Only player in Pennsylvania history to finish in the top 10 of the state tournament all four years of high school.
- Three-time PIAA District 2 Champion and 2021 District Runner-Up.
- 2023 and 2024 Citizens Voice Player of the Year and 2021-22 Wyoming Valley Conference All-Star.
- Led high school to an undefeated Wyoming Valley Conference Championship in 2024.
- Four-time team MVP of high school team.
- Top junior career finishes include placing as a medalist at the USGA Junior Am qualifier with a 67, finishing tied for 10th at the 2024 Scott Robertson Memorial, tied for 4th 2023 AJGA Three Little Birds Memorial Foundation at the Piedmont Club, tied for 9th at the 2023 AJGA Babygrande D.C. Classic at East Potomac Golf Links and tied for 2nd 2023 AJGA Preview at Bethpage Yellow.
- 2024 Anthracite Golf Association Men’s Stroke Play Champion at Country Club of Scranton and 2024 Anthracite Golf Associations Men’s Coal Scuttle runner-up.
- Finished in the top 25 in the PA Amateur at Huntington Valley Country Club in 2024.
- Raised close to $10,000 by playing 100 holes of golf for the Alzheimer’s Association in honor of his grandfather.
Leon on Werner: “Nick Werner is the top junior golfer in the state of Pennsylvania, and we're absolutely thrilled that he is staying home! Nick is a wonderful young man from an outstanding family. His work ethic and record of constant improvement is going to allow him to make an immediate impact in Happy Valley next fall.”
