Aug. 16, 2016
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - A program record four members of the Penn State men's golf program completed play Tuesday in the 116th U.S. Amateur, being contested on the North and South Courses at Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield, Michigan.
The Nittany Lions' contingent was led by a rising sophomore and a 2016 senior. Sophomore Ryan Dornes (Lancaster, Pa.), shot rounds of 71-72-143 (+3), missing the cut by one stroke. After shooting an opening round two-under 68, spring graduate Geoff Vartelas (Cromwell, Conn.) shot a 75 on Tuesday to also finish with a 143 (+3) to barely miss advancing in the 312-player field.
A 2016 senior and spring graduate, Chris Houston (Gilford, N.H.) fired a 71 Tuesday, but his 146 total (+6) did not make the cut. Sophomore J.D. Hughes (Carlisle, Pa.) shot a 72-76-148 (+8) and also was above the cut line. Hughes is a transfer who will be eligible to play for Coach Greg Nye during the 2016-17 campaign.
The U.S. Amateur begins with 36 holes of stroke play qualifying Monday and Tuesday, followed by match play for the top 64 golfers from Wednesday through Sunday in the championship in suburban Detroit.
The Penn State men's golf program has posted the highest team GPA of any Nittany Lion program in each of the last two years, while also making the NCAA Regional Championships in each of the last two seasons.
Penn State finished the 2015-16 season ranked No. 33 by GolfWeek, with the Nittany Lions posting a record of 105-29-1, (78.1). Golfstat ranked Penn State No. 36 among the nation's approximately 300 Division I programs.
For more on Penn State men's golf, follow at @PennStateMGolf.