Feb. 15, 2014
BRADENTON, Fla. - The Nittany Lion men's golf squad concluded the Big Ten Match Play Championship Saturday at The Concessions Golf Club, defeating Nebraska 4-0-1.
Junior Xander McDonald-Smith (Rockaway Park, N.Y.) faced off against Calvin Freeman of the Cornhuskers and came out on top with a 1-up victory. McDonald-Smith went 3-0 in his match ups throughout the tournament.
Also recording a 1-up victory was junior Jens Talbert (Little Rock, Ark.), who recorded a win against senior opponent Matt Record. Sophomore Chris Houston (Gilford, N.H.) overcame his competition in 16 holes with a 3 and 2 victory over freshman counterpart Justin Jennings.
Sophomore JD Dornes (Lancaster, Pa.) topped Nebraska's Ross Dickson in 15 holes, winning the match 5 and 3.
Rounding out Penn State's lineup against Nebraska was sophomore Geoff Vartelas (Cromwell, Conn.), who halved his match with Josh Reinertson.
The championship match between Michigan and Purdue was decided by a sudden-death playoff. The Wolverines were able to edge the Boilermakers to earn the 2014 Big Ten Match Play title.
Penn State will continue its spring 2014 campaign when the team takes on the University of Richmond in a one day, match play event in Midlothian, Va. on March 1.