Sept. 1, 2008
FARMINGTON, PA.; Sept. 1, 2008-- - The Nittany Lion golf team improved its first round score by three strokes in the second round of the Rutherford Intercollegiate with a 297 to remain in third with a two-day combined score of 597.
Penn State's 21-over 597 is 11 shots behind the current leader, Purdue, who moved from second to first with an even-par second day 288 to improve its total to 586. Miami (Ohio) now sits at second after a 17-over second round, giving them a 594 two-day total.
Junior Kevin Foley (Sommerville, N.J.) improved his game by two strokes with a one over 73 to move into a tie for ninth thanks to his hole-in-one on the third hole. The 218-yard shot was taken with his 3-iron, his second hole-in-one in his lifetime. His two round total is now a four-over 148.
"I was standing right behind Kevin when he shot that," said head coach Greg Nye. "It was a perfect shot that went right into the hole. I watched a low-key guy get pretty excited."
Sophomore Tommy McDonagh (Wilton, Conn.) also is tied with Foley for ninth after a 5-over 77 and a two round total of 148, 10 strokes back from current leader Nakaraintra Ratanakul of Purdue. Ratanakul shot a 4-under 68 in the second round to accumulate a two-day total of 138.
Junior T.J. Howe (Osceola, Pa.) and junior Jim Markovitz (Bridgville, PA) are both tied in 26th place with a two round total of 153. Howe fired a one-under par to improve his first round by 11 strokes. Markovitz shot a six-over 78 in his second round of play.
"We played well on the first nine holes today," said coach Nye. "Today we only showed up for nine holes, tomorrow we will try to be ready for all 18."
The final round of the Rutherford Intercollegiate will begin tomorrow morning at 7:30 with awards following the conclusion of play.