CARMEL, Ind. – The Penn State men's golf team finished in 10th place Sunday with a 918 (54-over) in the 2021 Big Ten Championships at Crooked Stick Golf Club. The Nittany Lions improved their team score from Saturday's round to Sunday's final round, but couldn't catch back up to the leaders.
"Crooked Stick with the wind up was our third consecutive week of a weather battle," said Penn State men's golf head coach Greg Nye. "We had some fight back in round one, but we ran out of emotional energy to rally over the weekend."
No. 11 Illinois won its sixth-straight Big Ten title by one stroke over No. 38 Iowa with a 289 in the final round for an 883 total (19-over). Iowa's Max McClear held on to the number-one spot with a 71 in the final round and 1-under 215 to win by three strokes.
Graduate student Alec Bard (New Hartford, New York) and senior Lou Olsakovsky (Upper St. Clair, Pennsylvania) tied for 20th with scores of 11-over 227. Bard (76-74-77) and sophomore Patrick Sheehan (Doylestown, Pennsylvania) each made three birdies on the final day. Olsakovsky had his best Big Ten Championships round on Friday with a 73 (73-78-76=227).
"Lou and Alec played well again as they had throughout the season," Nye said. "We don't see major championship venues often, and with our lack of familiarity with Crooked Stick, these two just did a fantastic job competing hole one through 54."
Penn State's leaders on Sunday were Olsakovsky and Sheehan who both recorded scores of 76 (4-over) on the final day. Sheehan posted a 239 (58th, 23-over, 80-83-76) with his best round of his first Big Ten Championships appearance coming in the final round.
Graduate student Ryan Davis (Berkeley Heights, New Jersey) finished in a tie for 48th with a 235 (19-over, 76-77-82). Senior James McHugh tied for 51st (236, 20-over, 81-80, 77) in his first Big Ten Championship outing.
