Nittany Lion Golf Team Jumps Nine Spots to Fourth PlaceNittany Lion Golf Team Jumps Nine Spots to Fourth Place

Nittany Lion Golf Team Jumps Nine Spots to Fourth Place

The Penn State men's golf team jumped nine spots to a tie for fourth place, and sophomore Kevin Foley (Somerville, N.J.) posted the lowest second-round score of the 101-player field on Day 2 of the fourth annual Pinehurst Intercollegiate Monday.

Foley, last year's Big Ten Freshman of the Year and a second team All-Big Ten selection, was one of only five players to shoot under par in the second round, firing a 3-under par 69. Ranked No. 40 in the nation by Golfstat, Foley bested his first round score of 79 by 10 shots and is currently tied for seventh place at 4-over par, four shots behind the leader.

After shooting 312 (+24) in the first round, Penn State recorded the second-lowest team score of Day 2, firing a 294 (+6). The Nittany Lions, ranked No. 17 by Golfstat, sit 28 shots behind first-place Indiana but only four shots separate the Lions from second place.

Senior Harvin Groft (State College, Pa.) posted another solid round, putting him in contention for a top-10 finish. Through two rounds, Groft has shot rounds of 74 and 75 and is tied for 11th place at 5-over par.

Sophomore T.J. Howe (Osceola, Pa.), senior Robert Rohanna (Waynesburg, Pa.) and junior Mitch Van Zelfden (Marietta, Ga.) all bested their first-round scores, putting the Lions in contention for a top-5 finish. Howe is tied for 41st place at +10 (154), while Rohanna sits in a tie for 48th place at +11 (155). Van Zelfden is tied for 67th at +14 (158).

Nineteen teams are competing at the tournament, co-hosted by Indiana and East Carolina at the 7,035-yard, par-72 Centennial Pinehurst No. 8 golf course in Pinehurst, N.C.

Indiana's Seth Brandon continues to lead the field after shooting rounds of 69 and 75. Brandon (E) sits one shot ahead of teammates Jorge Campillo (+1) and Ren Han (+1) in the individual standings.

Foley and the Nittany Lions will look to finish strong in the final round of the 54-hole tournament on Tuesday. Tee-off is scheduled for 9 a.m.

Team R1 R2 Total To Par1) Indiana 286 292 578 +22) Eastern Kentucky 304 298 602 +263) VCU 303 300 603 +27T4) Penn State 312 294 606 +30T4) Western Carolina 307 299 606 +306) Ball State 303 304 607 +317) San Francisco 308 301 609 +338) UNC-Greensboro 305 305 610 +349) Wisconsin 308 304 612 +3610) East Carolina 311 303 614 +3811) St. Mary's (Ca.) 309 307 616 +4012) UNC-Wilmington 306 311 617 +41T13) Marquette 314 304 618 +42T13) Toledo 311 307 618 +4215) Miami (Ohio) 316 305 621 +4516) Hartford 316 306 622 +4617) Western Illinois 322 308 630 +5418) Marshall 315 320 635 +5919) IUPUI 333 317 650 +74
Penn State Players R1 R2 Total To ParT7) Kevin Foley 79 69 148 +4T11) Harvin Groft 74 75 149 +5T41) T.J. Howe 79 75 154 +10T48) Robert Rohanna 80 75 155 +11T67) Mitch Van Zelfden 80 78 158 +14