April 27, 2008
East Lansing, Mich. - Senior Robert Rohanna (Waynesburg, Pa.), a 2007 first-team All-Big Ten Conference selection, shot a final-round 70 - tied for the second lowest round of the day - and jumped 17 spots in the individual standings to tie for 26th place at the 2008 Big Ten Men's Golf Championship Sunday.
Tied for 43rd heading into Sunday, Rohanna shaved 10 strokes off his third-round score, carding six birdies in the final round and jumping into a five-way tie for 26th place. Rohanna, who tied for fourth at last year's Big Ten Championship, shot rounds of 76-77-80-70 (303) and finished at 15-over par.
The lowest round of the day came from Indiana's Jorge Campillo, who won the individual title at 10-under par after firing rounds of 69-71-71-67 (278).
Penn State was unable to leap in the standings in the final round, remaining in 11th place after posting scores of 299-313-317-302 (1,231). Host Michigan State and Minnesota, who tied for first place at last year's Big Ten Championship, battled for the top spot again this year, with Michigan State (+21) gaining a four-shot edge over Minnesota (+25) to win the team title.
Eleven teams competed in the 89th edition of the tournament, which was held at the 7,013-yard, par-72 Forest Akers West Golf Course in East Lansing, Mich.
Sophomore Kevin Foley (Somerville, N.J.), last year's Big Ten Freshman of the Year, tied for 43rd place at 23-over par after shooting rounds of 76-82-76-77 (311). Fellow sophomore T.J. Howe (Osceola, Pa.) carded scores of 71-88-80-76 (315) and tied for 49th place at 27-over par.
Junior Matt Leon (Brampton, Ontario) finished in 54th place at 32-over par after firing rounds of 83-77-81-79 (320) and senior Harvin Groft (State College, Pa.) finished one spot back of Leon, shooting rounds of 76-77-82-86 (321).
The Nittany Lions, ranked No. 33 in the nation by Golfstat and No. 36 in the Golfweek/Sagarin Rankings, will look to pick up their 18th NCAA Regional bid in the last 19 years when the bids are announced May 5.
Team R1 R2 R3 R4 Score To Par1) Michigan State 291 295 286 301 1,173 +212) Minnesota 293 301 290 293 1,177 +253) Illinois 293 288 302 299 1,182 +304) Indiana 297 295 293 298 1,183 +315) Michigan 296 302 298 298 1,194 +42T6) Northwestern 293 291 309 303 1,196 +44T6) Ohio State 293 298 313 292 1,196 +448) Wisconsin 296 305 302 296 1,199 +479) Purdue 303 295 311 300 1,209 +5710) Iowa 304 305 301 302 1,212 +6011) Penn State 299 313 317 302 1,231 +79
Penn State Players R1 R2 R3 R4 Score To ParT26) Robert Rohanna 76 77 80 70 303 +15T43) Kevin Foley 76 82 76 77 311 +23T49) T.J. Howe 71 88 80 76 315 +2754) Matt Leon 83 77 81 79 320 +3255) Harvin Groft 76 77 82 86 321 +33