Penn College Golfers in End-of-Season Championships

After a regular season that included four first-place and one second-place finish in invitationals, Pennsylvania College of Technology golfers will seek conference and national honors in tournament action Monday and Tuesday.

Competing on the Penn State Blue Course, the Wildcats are among the favorites for the Penn State University Athletic Conference and United States Collegiate Athletic Association championships.

"Our regular season was what I was looking for out of the team. Although I thought we would have more scores in the 70s this season, the scores were pretty consistent and I was pleased with their regular-season play," said coach Matt Haile, who is in his fifth season. "Although our last two matches yielded our highest team scores all season, I'm confident in their games heading up to Penn State. We've spent this week ironing out the small things that will yield better play and I'm excited to see them play two days of golf.

"I've very pleased with my players thus far. They've been consistent all year and my newcomers have stepped it up and played great for not having played most of the courses we played this year. They've worked really hard on their games this season and I'm proud to have such a great group of guys who are dedicated to the team," Haile continued.

The key Monday and Tuesday, according to the coach, "is staying patient and playing their games. The tournament is two days, so it's important that they not give up after a few bad holes. If they have a bad day, they need to come back with a good round."

Through action thus far, weather and course conditions couldn't have been better for the Wildcats, although that could change with a good chance of showers forecast for Monday by the National Weather Service in State College and isolated showers forecast for Tuesday.

Looking ahead, Haile said, "Based on team scoring average for the regular season, we averaged nine shots better than PSU DuBois. Anything can happen at this point and our guys need to go out and play their games and it should all work out in the end. Based on the talent we have on the team, I'm just waiting for that breakthrough moment that we really haven't had yet thus far. We have at least four players on the team who realistically can shoot in the 70s, so I'm really hoping this happens at Penn State."

Competing in the championships for Penn College will be Alex Howe, of Lake Ariel; Corey Teeple, of Lake Ariel; C.J. Foust, of Palmyra; Nick Krupka, of Allentown; Bryce Petersheim, of Birdsboro; and Sam Bubb, of Williamsport.

Penn College finished second in the PSUAC last year and in 2010, and was third in 2009 and 2011. Its last conference title came in 2008. In USCAA play, the Wildcats were fourth in 2009, fifth in 2010, seventh in 2011 and eighth a year ago.