April 29, 2008
University Park, Pa. - Senior Robert Rohanna (Waynesburg, Pa.) was named a second-team All-Big Ten Conference selection as the conference announced its postseason awards winners Tuesday.
Rohanna, who garnered first-team All-Big Ten Conference honors last year, led the men's golf team with a 73.84 stroke average. He earned medalist honors twice - at the Marshall Invitational and at the Rutherford Intercollegiate - and recorded four top-10 finishes this season.
His two wins this season came at courses where he had previously won, having won last year's Marshall Invitational and Rutherford Intercollegiate. In his collegiate career, Rohanna has won five individual titles - tied for the most by any player in Nittany Lion golf history - and recorded 17 top-10 finishes.
A 2007 GCAA All-American Scholar, Rohanna stands among four golfers who hold the record for lowest 36-hole score in team history at 136. Rohanna posted the score at the 2008 Marshall Invitational, where he became just the second golfer in the tournament's 39-year history to win back-to-back titles.
The conference also announced honorees from each of the conference's 11 men's golf teams for the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award. Junior Matt Leon (Brampton, Ontario) was chosen as Penn State's candidate for the award. The conference chooses student-athletes who have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior. In addition, student-athletes must be in good academic standing and have demonstrated good citizenship outside of the sports-competition setting. Leon and the other 10 selections are now candidates for the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award, given to one male and one female student-athlete from each school at the end of the school year.
Rohanna, Leon and the Nittany Lion golf team will look to continue their season when the NCAA East Regional bids are announced May 5. This year's East Regional will be held May 15-17 at the Council Fire Golf Club in Chattanooga, Tenn. Penn State has earned a bid in 17 of the last 18 years.