March 18, 2009
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State junior T.J. Howe (Osceola, Pa) has been named the Big Ten Men's Golfer of the Week for the first time in his career after winning medalist honors at the Pinehurst Intercollegiate last weekend. The weekly honor is the first of his career. Howe sunk 12 birdies and an eagle as he dominated his way through with rounds of 73, 69 and 67 to finish at seven-under par.
Howe's first place finish at the fifth annual Pinehurst Intercollegiate in Pinehurst, N.C. was the first of his collegiate career and seventh career top-10 finish. Howe, named 2007/08 Mid-Atlantic All-Region team selection, recorded a second place finish earlier in the fall at the Lehigh Invitational, shooting a one-under par.
"It feels really good to finally get first place," said Howe. "I have come pretty close before but I stayed focused and played well to get the win."
The 2007/08 Academic All-Big Ten honoree piloted the Nittany Lions this past week to a Pinehurst Intercollegiate Tournament Championship with his three-round score of 209 (-7). As a team, Penn State broke the total team score record with 852 strokes and the final round team score mark, firing a 279 on the last 18 holes. His scorecard set the event record by one stroke, previously held by U.S. Amateur Champion and current PGA Tour member Colt Knost. Howe's final 18-hole score of 67 also ties the low- round and low-final-round records of the tournament. Howe's 67 also beat his previous best score by two strokes.
The Nittany Lions will head to Columbus, Ohio on April 11 for the 40th annual Kepler Invitational. Howe finished tied for second in last year's Kepler Invitational, leading the Lions at nine-over par. The Ohio State Scarlet Course will welcome a 14-team field with stiff competition.