March 11, 2012
PINEHURST, N.C. - The Penn State men's golf team posted its tournament-low team score of 289 in the final round to finish in third place with a three round total of 876 (296-291-289), Sunday at The Club at Pinehurst No. 6.
"This team is turning a corner in doing the off-season training and in-season preparation that leads to results like they achieved today," said Coach Greg Nye. "It is satisfying to compete as well as a team as we did this weekend at Pinehurst."
After concluding the second round Saturday, the Nittany Lions held the fifth place position on the team leader board. However, with a standout, 1-under-par performance from sophomore Shane Stewart (Dublin, Ohio) and a trio of 2-over-par showings from Jay Woodward (Bridgeport, W.Va.), Anthony DeGol (Hollidaysburg, Pa.) and Xander McDonald-Smith(Rockaway Park, N.Y.), the Lions were able to boost themselves two positions to finish play in third.
"It was great to see Shane get a top ten, as well as Jay, Anthony and Xander finishing in the top twenty," said Nye.
Penn State finished just five strokes behind Old Dominion who captured the team title. The Monarchs, who held onto the first place position for the entirety of the tournament, posted rounds of 290-284-297 (871).
Villanova's Michael Kania secured the individual title with a 3-under-par total of 210 (69-68-73). Kania concluded nine strokes ahead of Penn State's top individual, Stewart, who tied for eighth with a score of 219 (74-75-70).
For all final results, please visit Golfstat.
The Nittany Lions will be back in action March 30-April 1 at the Fireline Towson Invitational. This will mark Penn State's first showing at the tournament hosted by the Towson Tigers.
Penn State 296-291-289=876 3rd out of 11 Teams Shane Stewart 74-75-70=219 t-8thJay Woodward 77-70-73=220 t-14thAnthony DeGol 75-72-73=220 t-14thXander McDonald-Smith 73-74-73=220 t-14thTommy McDonagh 74-82-77=233 t-59th* Jens Talbert74-78-76=228 t-44th
* Indicates individual player