April 6, 2011
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State men's golf team will welcome 14 teams to the par 71, 7,202-yard Penn State Blue Course Fri.-Sun. for the 2011 Rutherford Intercollegiate, marking the tournament's 35th year.
The three-day, 54-hole tournament will feature host Penn State, Army, Binghamton, Bucknell, Canisius, Colgate, Delaware, George Mason, James Madison, Loyola (Md.), Navy, Robert Morris, St. Bonaventure, St. Francis (Pa.), Towson and William & Mary. There will be split-tees on holes one and 10 for all three rounds of play with tee times set for 8:30 a.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
In the 34th edition of the Rutherford, Penn State took both the tournament and individual titles. The team posted rounds of 291-299-289 (879) to finish 20 shots ahead of second-place Towson (299) and capture its 21st first-place finish in tournament history. Penn State alum Kevin Foley beat Towson's John Duthie by eight strokes to capture the individual title with a three-round total of 211 (70-72-69).
Penn State is coming off a ninth place finish at the LSU Invitational and will look to capture the 22nd first-place tournament title at the Rutherford to give the Nittany Lions their first tournament title of the spring season. The team enters the tournament as the highest ranked squad in the field, ranked No. 62 in the nation by Golfweek, correspondingly.
Senior T.J. Howe (Osceola, Pa.) has continued to prove himself on the course throughout the fall and spring seasons, finishing on top for the Nittany Lions in all but one of their eight tournaments. Howe was named Big Ten Golfer of the Week after tying for third at the Pinehurst Intercollegiate earlier this spring. He will finish out his final season at Penn State this spring, showcasing his ability to lead the Lions on the course with his high level of play.
For updates on Penn State golfers go to GoPSUsports.com or follow @GoPSU_mgolf on Twitter.
2011 Rutherford Intercollegiate Quick Facts
Host: Penn State University
Location: State College, Pa.
Course: Penn State Blue Course
Dates: Fri.-Sun., April 8-10
Format: 18 holes (tee times) on Friday, 18 holes (tee times) on Saturday, 18 holes (tee times) on Sunday
Par/Yardage: 71/7,202
Tournament Field (latest Golfweek rankings): (62) Penn State, (143) James Madison, (145) William & Mary, (162) Binghamton, (167) Towson, (196) Delaware, (200) Loy)ola (Md.), (209) George Mason, (223) Navy, (251) St. Francis (Pa.), (253) Army, (258) Robert Morris, (260) Canisius, (265) Bucknell, (268) St. Bonaventure and (284) Colgate
2010 Team Champion: Penn State, 291-299-289 (879)
2010 Individual Winner: Kevin Foley, Penn State, 70-72-69 (211)