Sept. 19, 2010
CAMBRIDGE, Md. - The Penn State men's golf team brought home their first title of the fall season Sunday. The team carded a final round of 283, finishing the weekend with a three-round total of 844 (280-281-283) and taking home the title of the third annual Maryland Intercollegiate. The team excelled on the field this weekend. Weekend highlights include a first place individual finish for freshman Michael Miller (Brewster, N.Y.) and a hole-in-one during the third round of play by senior T.J. Howe (Osceola, Pa.).
In second place after the first two rounds of play, the Nittany Lions came back strong to catapult themselves in front of UNC-Wilmington who held the first place position after two rounds of play. Penn State finished eight shots ahead of second-place UNC Wilmington. The Nittany Lions shot eight-under par and carded 46 birdies.
"Winning the Maryland Intercollegiate was a thrill," Head Coach Greg Nye said. "The collective effort to bounce back this week showed great character."
Miller distinguished himself on the field this weekend. He shot a final round of 69 with a three-round total of 207 to win the tournament. Miller beat Penn's Max Marisco by one stroke, winning the tournament at six-under par and carding 12 birdies. "Mike Miller has come out of gates in a big way. He has been nothing short of the outstanding play he showed over the summer," said Nye.
Howe finished two strokes behind Miller carding rounds of 68-71-70 (209). His hole-in-one during the third round of play was an incredible achievement, but evidently did not cause Howe to lose focus throughout the round. Howe took a third place finish for the weekend.
"T.J. showed his experience when I went up to him about 10 minutes after his hole-in-one, and he said -- thanks coach, but I have to keep focus on this shot I have here now," Nye.
Sophomore Anthony DeGol (Hollidaysburg, Pa.) is the third Nittany Lion to finish in the top five for the tournament. DeGol proved to be a true asset to the team posting rounds of 70-70-71 (211) and finishing two-under par. Sophomore Ernesto Marin (Miami, Fla) finished tied for 19 after shooting a three-round four-over par total (217). Marin posted rounds of 72-72-73. Senior Tommy McDonagh (East Norwalk, Conn.) rounded out Penn State's lineup, tying for 46 with rounds of 74-73-77 (224).
The Nittany Lions will head to Illinois next weekend to compete at the Windon Memorial in Chicago. For more updates and information about the tournament please visit GoPSUsports.com.