Penn State New Kensington: Men's and Women's Golf

ADAM STAWSKI
FINISHES FOURTH;
EARNS ALL-AMERICA HONORS
United States Collegiate
Athletic Association
National Golf Championships

Freshman Adam Stawski shot 79 on Oct. 13 to finish fourth overall in the United States Collegiate Athletic Association national championships at the Penn State Blue Course in State College, Pa.

Coupled with a opening round 74, Stawski totaled a 153, six shots behind the winner. The Plum High School graduate’s efforts earned him USCAA All America honors. Stawski is the second New Kensington player to be named to the All America team. Matt Miller turned the trick a year ago.

Kevin Reiber of Mont Alto and Alex Humphries of Rochester (Michigan) College tied for medalist at 147. Reiber won the national individual title with a par on the first playoff hole. Humphries didn’t go away empty-handed as Rochester won the team championship with a total of 608, 24 shots clear of runner-up Mont Alto.

As a team, the New Kensington Lions finished sixth nationally with a total of 674. The inaugural USCAA national golf championships featured 10 Penn State campuses and six teams from Michigan, Texas, Oklahoma, New Hampshire, and Virginia.

In the Penn State University Athletic Conference finals, Stawski took runner-up honors behind Reiber. Stawski second place finish was the second best PSUAC finish by a New Kensington players. John Hook won the conference individual title in 2007.

TEAM STANDINGS (Final)
Rochester (Michigan) College 307-301-608
Penn State Mont Alto 320-312-632
Penn State Wilkes-Barre 315-326-641
Penn College 323-327-650
Apprentice (Virginia) School 317—336-653
Penn State New Kensington 334-340-674
University of Dallas 344-347-691
Penn State Hazelton 349-342-691
New Hampshire Technical Institute 355-342-697
Penn State Lehigh Valley 356-359-715
Penn State Schuylkill 370-375-745
Penn State Greater Allegheny 394-391-785
Rhemer Bible (Oklahoma) College-Individual only
Apprentice School-Individual only
Penn State Shenango-Individual only

TOP FIVE INDIVIDUALS (Final)
Kevin Reiber, PS Mont Alto 73-74-147
Alex Humphries, Rochester College 74-73-147
Corey Heile, Rochester, 78-74-152
Adam Stawski, PS New Kensington, 74-79-153
Craig Flint, PS Mont Alto, 76-79-155

PSNK INDIVIDUAL SCORES
Adam Stawski 74-79-153
Greg Conroy 85-87-172
Mike Seanor 86-88-174
Ryan Slanicka 92-86-178
Jase Armstrong 91-89-180
Nick Sibula 89-95-184
TOTAL: 334-340-674

TEAM PREPARES FOR
PSUAC CONFERENCE AND USCAA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
9:00 a.m., Monday-Tuesday,
October 12-13
Penn State Blue Course, State College, Pa.

ADAM STAWSKI NAMED NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Individual and team honors are at stake for the Penn State New Kensington golf team when the post-season begins with the United States Collegiate Athletic Association and Penn State University Athletic Conference championships at 9 a.m., Monday-Tuesday, Oct.12-13, at the Penn State Blue Course on the University Park campus.

Sixteen teams will tee it up for the national title and the 10 Penn State campuses will vie for the conference title as well. The top 10 individuals earn All America and All Conference honors. The USCAA tournament is held in conjunction with the annual PSUAC championships.

The New Kensington Lions go into the championships with a 12-7 PSUAC record and 13-8 overall mark after winning the Greater Allegheny Invitational Oct. 2. Freshman Adam Stawski (Plum) set a campus individual scoring record with a four-under par 68 to win the PSUAC tournament at Butler's Golf Course-Woodside in Elizabeth.

Stawski is the first New Kensington player to break 70 and he shattered the old mark by three strokes. A year ago, John Hook shot 71 on the same Woodside layout.

For his efforts, Stawski was named the United State Collegiate Athletic Association’s Player of the Week for the period Sept. 28-Oct. 4. Winning tournaments and posting low scores is nothing new to Stawski, who majoring in physics with a minor in philosophy.

"Adam is proficient in all phases of the game, Driving, approach shots, chipping and putting," said Bill Woodard, in his eighth season as head coach. "He is steady and focused and has great course management skills."

A year ago, the 5'8 standout won the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League (WPIAL) with a 2-under 70, the only player to finish under par. On the year, Stawski scoring is steadily improving with each match. He shot 77 (4 over) at White Deer Golf Course, 73 (one over) at Penn National Golf Club, and 68 at Butler's. His season average is 72.6

"The key to Adam's game is that he keeps his emotions under control," Woodard said. "He doesn’t get stressed out by bad shots that are inevitable in any golf match."

New Kensington put together a season-best score of 316 to capture the regular-season finale for the second consecutive year. Sophomore Greg Conroy (St. Joseph's) shot an 81 and freshman Mike Seanor (Plum) carded an 82. The team fell four strokes shy of the team scoring record of 312 that was set last year.

On the year, Stawski is averaging 72.6 strokes per match followed by Conroy and Seanor at 82; senior Ryan Slanicka at 85; sophomore Jase Armstrong at 85; and junior Nick Sibula at 86.

"The team improved steadily throughout the season," said Woodard, who is also the alumni and public relations specialist at the campus."And I like our chances in the conference and national championships. Adam should be one of the favorite to win the individual conference title and the team has the talent to win it all."

The ten-man roster included senior Bubby Breiznican (St. Joseph) and freshmen, Colton Porter (West Shamokin), Tom Nwrandski (Deer Lakes) and Ray Wygonik (Highlands). The team a good balance of veterans and newcomers and all players earned starting spots for at least two matches during the year.
.
"This is the first year we have depth with 10 guys capable of making the starting team," said Bill Woodard, the eight-year head coach. "When the starting line-up is finalized by the post-season championships, we will have six players with the ability of shooting in the mid-70s."

Penn State New Kensington is a member of the USCAA, a national organization that provides opportunities for small colleges to compete on an equal level of competition with schools of like size and athletic programs. The goal is to provide athletes at colleges with enrollment under 1,500 the opportunity to be recognized and to be highlighted for their achievements.

POST-SEASON ITINERARY
PSUAC/USCAA Championships, Oct. 11-13,
Penn State Blue Course: 814-863-0257

Sun. Oct 11
Practice Round: 12:40 and 12:50 p.m; Penn State Blue Course
Meet in Field House Parking Lot - 8:45 a.m.; Leave Field House - 9:00 a.m.
Brunch: 11:00 a.m.; Dinner: 6:00 p.m.

Mon. Oct 12
PSUAC/USCAA Championships-1st Round
Penn State Blue Course: 9:00 a.m.; Practice Range: 8:00 a.m.
Breakfast: Team buffet at hotel, 7:00 a.m.;
Lunch: on your own at course (you get meal money);
Dinner: Team at restaurant, 7:00 p.m.

Tues. Oct. 13
PSUAC/USCAA Championships-2nd Round
Penn State Blue Course: 9:00 a.m.; Practice Range-8:00 a.m.
Awards Banquet-following posting of final scores
Breakfast: Team buffet at hotel, 7:00 a.m.;
Lunch: on your own at course (you get meal money);
Return to PSNK: 7:00 p.m.

HOTEL
Ramada Inn Conference Center, 1450 S. Atherton St., State College, PA 16801, 814-238-3001
Head Coach: Bill Woodard 724-334-6049 (office); 724-594-8421 (cell), uxw1@psu.edu

ADAM STAWSKI SETS CAMPUS RECORD WITH FOUR-UNDER 68
Leads Team to Championship of GA Invitational

Freshman Adam Stawski (Plum) set a Penn State New Kensington individual gold scoring record Oct. 2 with a four-under par 68 to win the Penn State Greater Allegheny Invitational at Butler's Golf Course-Woodside in Elizabeth.

Stawski, the 2008 WPIAL champion, is the first New Kensington player to break 70 and he shattered the old mark by three strokes. A year ago, John Hook shot 71 on the same Woodside layout. As a team.

The New Kensington Lions put together a season-best score of 316 to capture the Penn State University Athletic Conference regular-season finale for the second consecutive year. Sophomore Greg Conroy (St. Joseph's) shot an 81 and freshman Mike Seanor (Plum) carded an 82 as the New Kensington Lions improved to 12-7 in the conference and 13-8 overall. The team fell four strokes shy of the team scoring record of 312 that was set last year.

Individual and team honors are at stake when the post-season begins with the United States Collegiate Athletic Association national championships and the PSUAC conference championships at 9 a.m., Monday-Tuesday, Oct.12-13, at the Penn State Blue Course on the University Park campus.

Penn State University Athletic Conference
Penn State Greater Allegheny Invitational
at Butler's Golf Course-Woodside, Elizabeth, Pa., Par 72

Penn State New Kensington 316; Penn State Greater Allegheny 374; Penn State Fayette 388;
Penn State Shenango 393
PSNK 316: Greg Conroy 81; Mike Seanor 82; Bubby Slanicka 85 89
Penn State Greater Allegheny 374: Mike Pallasce 75; Teddy Fricke 87; E.J. Kleckner 102; John Lutz 110
Penn State Fayette 388: Zack Rockwell 75; Nolan Zavora 96; Marino McGalla 108
Penn State Shenango 393: Matt Sniezek 82; Will Shollenberger 93; Bill Fenton 101; Mike Mondak 117
PSNK Record: 12-7 PSUAC; 13-8 overall
Next Match: PSUAC/USCAA Championship, 9 a.m., Monday-Tuesday, Oct. 11-12, Penn State Blue Course, State College, Pa.

For a roster, schedule, results, stats, and season outlook, visit
http://www.nk.psu.edu/42905.htm#NEWS42905 online

Photos: http://www.nk.psu.edu/Information/News/photogallery.htm#id=14DOHO2T5-0&num=14DOHO2T5-1

PSUAC –West Division Standings
Mont Alto: 15-1
Penn College: 12-4
New Kensington: 12-7
Shenango: 3-13
Fayette: 3-13
Greater Allegheny: 1-10

Lions Finish Third in Bernie Guss Classic

Senior Bubby Breznican (St. Joseph) (Knoch) shot a team-low 81 to lead the Penn State New Kensington golf team to two victories and a third-place finish Sept. 22 in the Bernie Guss Classic at The Links at Spring Church.

Named after former New Kensington golf coach Bernie Guss, the tournament was the final regular season home match for the team. The Lions, 9-7 in the Penn State University Athletic Conference and 10-8 overall, defeated Penn State Shenango and Penn State Fayette, but fell to Penn State Mont Alto and Penn College.

Kevin Reiber was medalist with a 76 and led Mont Alto to the tournament title. Mont Alto is the third different winner in the history of the three-year classic. Penn College took the title in 2007 and New Kensington turned the trick last year.

The Lions face Shenango, Fayette, and host Penn State Greater Allegheny at 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 2, at Butler's Golf Course in Elizabeth, Pa. The PSUAC tournament is the final regular season match before the new Kensington Lions head to the PSUAC championships, Oct. 12-13, at the Penn State Blue Course in State College.

Guss, a resident of Lower Burrell and professor emeritus of engineering at the campus, guided Penn State New Kensington to four consecutive Western Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference titles, 1976-79.

PSUAC –West Division Standings
Mont Alto: 15-1
Penn College: 12-4
New Kensington: 9-7
Shenango: 3-10
Fayette: 2-11
Greater Allegheny: 0-8

TEAM TAKES SECOND
AT PENN NATIONAL
Adam Stawski Shoots 73

Photos: http://www.nk.psu.edu/Information/News/photogallery.htm#id=14DOHO2T5-0&num=14DOHO2T5-1

Freshman Adam Stawski (Plum) fired a one-over 73 to lead Penn State New Kensington to a second-place finish Sept. 15 in the Penn State Mont Alto Invitational at Penn National Golf Club.

Sophomore Greg Conroy (St. Joseph) shot 80, freshman Mike Seanor (Plum) carded an 82, and sophomore Jase Armstrong (Burrell) posted an 85 for a team total of 320, three strokes better than defending Penn State University Athletic Conference Penn College (323). Host Mont Alto (306) took the team trophy as well as medalist honors as Kevin Reiber came in with a 68.

Stawski, the 2008 Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League individual champion, has posted two rounds in the 70s in his two matches this season. The physics and philosophy major shot a 77 Sept. 2 at White Deer Golf Course in his first collegiate match. He is solid in all phases of the game and will be one of the favorites for the conference championship, Oct. 12-13 at the Penn State Blue Course in State College, Pa.

Stawski, Conroy and Seanor have solidified their ranking as one, two three, respectively, on the six-man starting line-up. The trio is complemented by Armstrong, senior Ryan Slanicka (Burrell), and junior Nick Sibula (Irwin) that gives the team a good balance of veterans and newcomers. Three other freshmen, Colton Porter (West Shamokin), Tom Nwrandski (Deer Lakes) and Ray Wygonik (Highlands) have earned starting spots during the season and continue to push to be in the top six. Senior Bubby Breznican (St. Joseph) is expected to return this week after passing his physical. Breznican was All Conference in 2007.

"This is the first year we have depth with nine guys capable of making the starting team," said Bill Woodard, thye eight-year head coach. "When the starting line-up is finalized by the post-season championships, we will have six players with the ability of shooting in the mid-70s."

The New Kensington Lions, 7-5 in the PSUAC and 8-6 overall, return to action at home at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 22 in the Bernie Guss Classic, a six-team PSUAC tournament at The Links at Spring Church in Apollo, Pa. The match features the six Penn State campuses from the PSUAC-West division: Fayette, Greater Allegheny, Mont Alto, Penn College, Shenango, and New Kensington, the defending champion.

Mont Alto leads the West division with an 11-1 record followed by Penn College at 9-3. New Kensington is in third place, four games behind the leader. A win at home for Woodard's team will set the stage for run at the regular season division championship.

"The team is steadily improving with each match and is on the cusp of a breakthrough victory," said Woodard, who is also the alumni and public relations specialist at the campus."We have had a different line-up each week so the top six have yet to identify themselves."

For a roster, schedule, results, stats, and season outlook, visit
http://www.nk.psu.edu/42905.htm#NEWS42905 online

Fall 2009
PREVIEW

The Penn State New Kensington men’s and women’s golf team begins Penn State University Athletic Conference play at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 2, at White Deer Golf Course in Williamsport, Pa.

New Kensington returns an experienced squad that includes seniors Bubby Breznican and Ryan Slanicka, junior Nick Sibula, and sophomore Jase Armstrong. All played a major role last year in the team's 19-3-1 record, best in the history of the campus. The team finished second in the division and fourth in PSUAC championships. Penn College is the seven-time defending conference champion.

Six newcomers include sophomore Greg Conroy (St. Joseph) and freshmen Adam Stawski (Plum), Michael Seanor (Plum), Colton Porter (West Shamokin), Raymond Wygonik (Highlands), and Tom Nwranski (Deer Lakes). They will battle the veterans for the coveted six spots on the starting roster. Stawski was the 2008 Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League individual champion.

Coach Bill Woodard expects a veteran and a newcomer to step up and overcome the loss of last season's top two players who relocated to University Park to continue their studies. Number one Matt Miller was an All America selection in 2008 and number two John Hook was the Penn State University Athletic Conference individual champion in 2007.

"From top to bottom, we have a solid group of ten players, and all are capable of shooting in the 70s," said Woodard, who begins his eighth season at the helm. "Starting spots will be at a premium and the players will be jockeying for positions each week. We may have a different starting line-up for each match."

Conroy and Seanor presented strong arguments for starting positions with a pair of 81s in the season-opening home tournament, “The Bob Darby Invitational,” at The Links at Spring Church. The New Kensington Lions defeated Community College of Allegheny County-Boyce and fell to Butler County Community College by two strokes, 329-331. Porter carded an 82 to give first-year players a sweep of the top three spots. The tournament is named after Bob Darby, a former coach, athletic director and kinesiology instructor at the campus. Darby retired in 2003 after 38 years of service to the University.

Penn State New Kensington competes in the Penn State University Athletic Conference and is a member of the United States Collegiate Athletic Association. The New Kensington Lions compete in the PSUAC-West division along with the Penn State campuses of Fayette, Greater Allegheny, Mont Alto, Penn College, and Shenango. The East division features the Penn State campuses of Abington, Hazelton, Lehigh Valley, Schuylkill and Wilkes-Barre.

The New Kensington Lions play five conference tournaments against the West rivals during the regular season. The away matches are Sept. 2 at White Deer Golf Course (Penn College is the host school); Sept. 9 at Mystic Rock at Nemacolin (Fayette); Sept. 15 at Penn National Golf Course (Mont Alto); and Oct. 2 at Butlers Golf Course in Elizabeth, Pa. (Greater Allegheny). The home match, "Bernie Guss Classic," is set for Sept. 22 at the Links at Spring Church.

The 36-hole conference championships, team and individual, are scheduled for Oct. 12-13 at the Penn State Blue Course in State College, Pa. The USCAA national championships are held in conjunction with the PSUAC conference championships. Penn College is the seven-time defending conference champion.

For schedules, rosters, results and statistics, visit http://www.nk.psu.edu/StudentLife/Athletics/28435.htm?cn25 online.

Spring Wrap-Up

Golf ended the season with a 338-354 loss to Butler County Community College at Lake Arthur Country Club. Freshman Jase Armstrong (Burrell) shot a team-low 86 in the first and final match of the spring for the Lions whose three earlier matches, including two at home, were cancelled. New Kensington concluded the 2008-09 season with a 19-4-1 overall record, best in campus history.

Sophomore Matt Miller finished fourth in the national golf championships and earned All-America honors from the United State Collegiate Athletic Association. He was named Penn State New Kensington's Male Athlete of the Year. He moves on to Penn State University Park in the fall to finish his bachelor's degree work in Communications.

SPRING RESULTS
April 9 at Lake Arthur CC -weather cancellation
April 14 at Sugarloaf GC-weather cancellation
April 20, Home at The Links at Spring Church, weather cancellation
Monday, April 27, Home at The Links at Spring Church-weather cancellation

April 29
BC3 Shootout
at Lake Arthur Country, Butler, Pa., Par 72
Butler County Community College 338; Penn State New Kensington 354
BCCC 338: Bob Marshall 79; Mike Casino 80; Doug Aller 89; Steve Voeller 90 81
PSNK 354: Jase Armstrong 86; Bubby Breeznican 88; Nick Sibula 89; Ryan Slanica 91

PSNK Final 2008-09 Record: 19-4-1

Spring 2009 Preview

The Lions open their spring golf schedule at noon on Thursday, April 9 at Lake Arthur Country Club in Butler, Pa. against Butler County Community College.

Because of snow in the forecast next week for northeast Pennsylvania, the original opener on April 7 was postponed until Tuesday, April 14, at Sugarloaf Golf Club, located in Sugarloaf Township in Luzerne County. Penn State Hazelton is the host school.

The reschduled "Hazelton Invitational" features five Penn State campuses from the Penn State University Athletic Conference: Hazelton, Lehigh Valley, Abington, Mont Alto, and New Kensington. New Kensington's four-match season includes two home matches at The Links at Spring Church in Apollo: noon, Monday, April 20, against Lehigh Valley and Butler County Community College and 1:00 p.m. Monday, April 27, against Westmoreland County Community College and Community College of Allegheny County-Boyce.

The golf team is coming off a record-breaking fall season as its 19-3-1 regular season mark was the best in the history of intercollegiate golf at the campus. Highlight of the season was a victory over Penn College at the Links at Spring Church. It was Penn’s first loss in six years and 157 matches since joining the PSUAC in 2003.

Sophomore Matt Miller earned United States Collegiate Athletic Association All America honors by finishing fourth in the PSUAC/USCAA championships at University Park. Miller had a two-day total of 77-77-154 and he was also selected to the PSUAC All Conference team.

Returning for the spring season are five of the top six players from the fall: junior captain Bubby Breznican (St. Joseph), junior Ryan Slanica (Burrell), sophomore Nick Sibula; freshman Jase Armstrong (Burrell); and Miller.
After a three year absence, junior Joe Reed is back at Penn State. As a freshman in 2005, Reed was the team's top player and finished sixth in the conference championship. He transferred to Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 2006 before returning to campus for the current spring semester.

"We have a veteran team returning and a chance to make another run at the PSUAC tournament in the fall," said Bill Woodard, who begins his eighth season as head coach. "All six players are capable of posting scores in the 70s."

FALL 2008 RECAP

The golf team finished the fall campaign with a 19-3-1 record, best in the history of intercollegiate golf at the campus. Highlight of the season was a victory over Penn College at the Links at Spring Church. It was Penn’s first loss in six years and 157 matches since joining the PSUAC in 2003.

Sophomore Matt Miller earned United States Collegiate Athletic Association All America honors by finishing fourth in the PSUAC/USCAA championships at University Park. Miller had a two-day total of 77-77-154 and he was also selected to the PSUAC All Conference team.

Season highlights included:
*a one-under par 71 by John Hook at Butlers Golf Course;

*a four-over par 76 by Matt Millerat Mystic Rock-Nemacolon (former home of the PGA Tour’s 84 Lumber Classic);

*a career-low77 by Jase Armstrong at the PSUAC championship;

*a career-low 75 by Ryan Slanica at Butlers;

*a 79 by captain Bubby Breznican and an 82 by Nick Sibula at The Links that provided the margin of victory over Penn College.

Armstrong, the only freshman on the squad, was the unanimous choice for MVP as voted by his team mates.

During the regular season, the team won three tournaments, including the Bernie Guss Classic, and finished runner-up in three other tourneys. At the PSUAC/USCAA championships, the New Kensington Lions finished fifth overall.

“The team put together an unforgettable season and everyone contributed, each shooting a career-best at one of the matches,” said Bill Woodard, seventh-year coach. “The guys were not only great players, they were great teammates and you can’t coach that. It is something that they had in them already when they enrolled at the campus. For that I am very proud.”

USCAA Results: http://www.theuscaa.com/sports/golf/2008-09/uscaa08.htm

2008 PROSPECTUS

GOLF TEAM BEGINS QUEST FOR FIRST CONFERENCE TITLE

Three Returnees Include Defending Conference Medalist
Three Newcomers Provide Solid Line-up

The Penn State New Kensington golf team’s quest for its first conference title in 30 years gets underway at noon on Tuesday, Aug. 26, with the Bob Darby Invitational at The Links at Spring Church in Apollo.

The traditional non-conference season opener features teams from Butler County Community College, Westmoreland County Community College, Community College of Allegheny County-Boyce, and Potomac State of West Virginia University.

Coach Bill Woodard, beginning his seventh season, returns three of the top four players from last year’s squad that finished second in the Penn State University Athletic Conference championships, 12 strokes behind six-time champion Penn College. The runner-up showing was the best by the campus since golf returned as an intercollegiate sport in 1999. During the regular season, New Kensington compiled a 10-6-1 overall mark to give the team its first winning season in 8 years

Heading the list of returnees is defending conference medalist, John Hook. The sophomore from Knoch High School bested the 41-player field by three strokes to become the first New Kensington golfer to win an individual title in the 40-year history of the campus athletics. An All-Conference and Academic All Conference selection, Hook finished first in four of seven tournaments a year ago. He has good command of all aspects of the game.

The team’s number two player, Bubby Breznican, is back for his junior year. The St. Joseph high School graduate earned All Conference honors in 2007 with his collegiate-best 78 and 10th-place finish in the PSUAC championships. Breznican is capable of shooting in the mid-70s and will be a contender for the PSUAC individual title.

Junior Ryan Slanica returns as the number four player. The Burrell High School product missed a berth on the All Conference team by four strokes. He began playing golf only four years ago and has developed into a solid player who should be able break 80 on a consistent basis.

Joining the incumbents are three newcomers who give the team experience and a solid line-up from top to bottom. The trio of two community college transfers and a freshman has the talent to push New Kensington past a Penn College that is undefeated in conference play, 148-0, since joining the league in 2004.

Sophomore Matt Miller, who played at number two for Westmoreland County last season, is slated to assume the number three position and challenge the veterans for the top spots. In addition to accuracy off the tee, Miller has a nice touch around the green.

Sophomore Nick Sibula, a teammate of Miller at WCCC, begins the season at number five. Sibula’s approach shots set up excellent birdie opportunities. Both transfers have the ability to scores in the 70s.

The number six slot is occupied by Jase Armstrong, a freshman from Burrell. Armstrong’s strong putting complements his length off the tee and he has the ability move up the ladder as the season progresses and he gains experience.

"We are strong througout th line-up and all six players are capable of going low," said Woodard, the dean of campus coaches since the retirement of women's volleyball coach John DeRiggi. "It's time for our team relieve Penn College of the burden of being undefeated for six years."

The Darby Invitational, named after the former athletic director and kinesiology instructor, is the first of two home matches for the New Kensington Lions. The other tournament at the Links is the Bernie Guss Classic, a conference match set for 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 23. Guss, professor emeritus of engineering and former golf coach, set the campus standard from 1976-79 when he guided the team to four consecutive Western Pennsylvania Collegiate Athletic Conference crowns.

The team begins conference play at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 3, at the Mystic Rock-Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in Farmington. Hosted by Penn State Fayette, the match features the other Penn State teams from the PSUAC-West division: Greater Allegheny, Mont Alto, New Kensington, and Penn College.

The PSUAC conference, comprising 15 teams from Penn State campuses across the state, evolved from the CCAC. The conference reflects the four-year eligibility that took effect in fall 2005 for all sports teams. Penn State New Kensington's athletics is the elite program of the Penn State system and men's basketball is the standard-bearer with 12 conference crowns. Overall, New Kensington has won 28 championships in four conferences: PSUAC, CCAC, Western Pennsylvania Athletic Conference, and Pennsylvania Intercollegiate Athletic Association.

For schedule and results, visit the Golf Schedule and Results Page.

2007 SEASON RECAP

JOHN HOOK WINS PSUAC GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP

Shoots 75-76-151 to Win Campus' First Individual Golf Title

TEAM FINISHES SECOND WITH A 631 TOTAL
DURING RECORDING BREAKING SEASON

Capping off a record-breaking season for the Penn State New Kensington golf team, freshman John Hook (Knoch) shot a final round 76 for a two-day total of 151 to win the individual title of the 2007 Penn State University Athletic Conference championships Oct 9 at the Penn State Blue Course in State College, Pa.

Hook bested the 41-player field by three strokes to become the first New Kensington golfer to win an individual conference title in the 40-year history of the campus sport. Senior Jeff Mangone (Gateway) shot a two-day score of 158 and sophomore Bubby Breznican (St. Joseph) carded a 165 as the team totaled 631 and earned tournament runner-up honors. Two-time defending team champion Penn College had a 619 team total to top the Lions by 12 strokes.

Team totals were determined by the lowest four scores each day for each six-player team and all six New Kensington players contributed to the run at the conference title. In the opening round on Oct. 8, Hook's score of 75 was followed by Mangone's 77, Breznican's 78, and junior Brandon Cochran's (Burrell) 83. In the final round, sophomore Pete Kaplon (West Shamokin) atoned for his first round 98 with a 20-stroke turnaround of 78, the fourth best score of the day. Kaplon's score and sophomore Ryan Slanica's (Burrell) 83, coupled with Hook's 76 and Mangone's 81, helped New Kensington stay within striking distance of Penn College and beat third-place Penn State Mont Alto by 37 strokes. Penn College has never lost a PSUAC match.

Overall, Mangone finished in fifth in the individual championships and Breznican tied for 10^th to join Hook on the All Conference team. Mangone, who graduates in December with a communications degree, earned conference honors a year ago with a ninth-place finish.

The PSUAC tournament brought out the best in the New Kensington players as all six had their collegiate career rounds. Hook's opening 75 was his career best and one of his four rounds in the 70s for the season. The Cabot, Pa. native averaged 79. 2 and saved his two best scores for the conference tournament. Breznican averaged 82.8 and shot his career-low 78 in the opening round of championships. Mangone, with an 84.1 average, had three rounds in the 70s and his opening 77 was his career best. Kaplon, Slanica, and Cochran all posted their collegiate low scores during the tournament.

New Kensington's second-place finish was the best showing by the campus since golf returned as an intercollegiate sport in 1999. The first-day team total of 313 broke the previous record of 316 set by the 2001 team. The three first-team PSUAC selections is also a campus record. During the regular season, New Kensington compiled a 10-6-1 overall mark to give the team its first winning season in 8 years.

The campus golf standard was set in 1979 when coach Bernie Guss' team won the last of its four consecutive Western Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference crowns. The campus last had an individual conference champion in 1985 when Bill Dollard defended his Pennsylvania Intercollegiate Athletic Conference men's tennis singles crown. Kevin Jost and Walt Dollard were the PIAA men's doubles champions in 1984.

Hook's golf title was the campus's first PSUAC championship in the three-year-old conference. Previously, New Kensington won 20 Commonwealth Campus Athletic Conference championships in five sports.

Penn State University Athletic Conference
Golf Championships, October 8-9
Penn State Blue Course, State College, Pa, Par 72

FINAL ROUND Team Scores

Penn College 619
Penn State New Kensington 631
Penn State Mont Alto 668
Penn State Fayette 669
Penn State Abington 665
Penn State Wilkes-Barre 690
Penn State Lehigh Valley 743

Top Ten Individuals

John Hook (PSNK) 75-76-151
Shaun McQuay (PC) 73-81-154
Doug Wagner (PC) 74-80-154
Ryan Nornhold PC) 77-77-154
Jeff Mangone (PSNK) 77-81-158
Scott Reed (MA) 81-82-163
Eric Schall (PC) 83-80-163
Matt Winder (PC) 87-77-164
Pete Wilson (LV) 78-86-164
Bubby Breznican (PSNK) 78-87-165
Scott Barrows (MA) 79-86-165
Steve Alexander (AB) 86-79-165

OTHER PSNK SCORES

Ryan Slanica 87-83-170 (17^th)
Brandon Cochran 83-88-171 (18^th)
Pete Kaplon 98-78-176 (22^nd)

TEAM AND INDIVIDUAL LEADERS FIRST ROUND

Penn College 305
Shaun McQuay 73; Doug Wagner 74; Ryan Nornhold 77; Dean Bell 81

PSNK 313
John Hook 75; Jeff Mangone 77; Bubby Breznican 78; Brandon Cochran 83

SECOND ROUND

Penn College 314
Ryan Nornhold 77; Matt Winder 77; Doug Wagner 80; Shaun McQuay 81

PSNK 318
John Hook 76; Pete Kaplon 78; Jeff Mangone 81; Ryan Slanica 83

ALL-TIME PSNK ATHLETIC CHAMPIONSHIPS

CCAC/PSUAC
20 titles, 5 sports

Basketball (12): 1975, 1976, 1979, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2003
Women's Volleyball (5): 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 2002
Women's Softball (2): 2002, 2003
Baseball: (1): 1973
Golf (1): 2007 Individual (John Hook)

WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA COLLEGIATE CONFERENCE (WPCC) CHAMPIONSHIPS
5 titles, 2 sports

Golf (4): 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979
Women's Volleyball (1): 2001

PENNSYLVANIA INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETIC CONFERENCE
3 Titles

Men's Tennis (3): 1984 Singles (Bill Dollard);
1984 Doubles (Kevin Jost and Walt Dollard); 1985 Singles (Bill Dollard)

2007-2008 PROSPECTUS
A veteran New Kensington golf team opens its fall campaign at home with the PSNK Lions Open at noon on Tuesday, Aug 28 at the Links at Spring Church in Apollo, Pa. The non-conference tournament features Penn State Greater Allegheny, Butler County Community College, and Westmoreland County Community College.

Led by senior Jeff Mangone, an All-Conference selection last season, sophomore Pete Kaplon, junior Brandon Cochran, and junior Ryan Slanica, the Lions are poised to make a run at the conference championship. A year ago, the team finished sixth in the Penn State University Athletic Conference tournament. Sophomore Bubby Breznican, the number three player two years ago, returns after a one-year break. Sophomore Adam Lasher, who played at number six a year ago, returns for his second season. Newcomers expected to battle the lettermen for one of the top six seeds are senior Tyler Krukar and freshmen John Hook, Joey Unger, Cory Crone, Matt Taylor, and Bob Adams.

Mangone (Gateway High School) earned co-medalist honors with a 79 as Penn State New Kensington went 1-1 on Aug 28 in its season opener at The Links at Spring Church. The Lions defeated Westmoreland County Community College, 328-341 and fell by three strokes to Butler County Community College, 325-328 in the non-conference tri-match. Sophomore Bubby Breznican (St. Joseph's) shot 81, junior Ryan Slanica (Burrell) shot 83 and freshman John Hook (Knoch) carded an 84 to match the best opening team score since golf returned as an intercollegiate sport in 2000.

The former golf team of R.J. Staley 79, Jeremy Smith 82, Tom Haluscak 83, and Dave Yohe 84 turned the trick in 2001 on the same date with identical scores as the current team. The 2001 team holds the record for lowest team score with a 316. Joe Reed has the individual record for lowest round with a 72 in 2005.

The Lions open the PSUAC-West division schedule on the road at 11:00 a.m.on Tuesday, Sept. 4 against Penn State Fayette, Penn College, Penn State Greater Allegheny, and Penn State Mont Alto at the Mystic Rock course at Nemacolin Woodlands. PSNK continues to travel the next two weeks with matches at Penn College (White Deer Country Club) on Sept. 12 and Mont Alto (Penn National Golf Club) on Sept. 20. The regular season concludes at home on Sept. 25. The PSUAC Championships, featuring the 11 teams from the East and West divisions, are slated for Oct. 8-9 at the Penn State Blue Course in State College.

Since golf returned as an intercollegiate sport in 2000, the team has compiled an eight-year record of 70-87-1. Golf at the New Kensington campus has a long history and 2006 marked the 30th anniversary of the campus' first collegiate golf championship. In 1976, under the direction of head coach Bernie Guss, the team captured the title of the Western Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference, the first of four consecutive WPCC championships.

PSUAC GOLF CONFERENCE

West Division
Greater Allegheny, Fayette, Mont Alto, New Kensington, Penn College

East Division
Abington, Delaware, Hazelton, Lehigh Valley, Schuylkill, Wilkes-Barre

PENN STATE NEW KENSINGTON
CCAC/PSUAC CHAMPIONSHIPS
19 titles, 4 sports

Basketball (12): 1975, 1976, 1979, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1994, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2003
Women's Volleyball (5): 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 2002
Baseball; (1): 1973
Men's Tennis (1): 1984

WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA COLLEGIATE CONFERENCE (WPCC) CHAMPIONSHIPS
5 Titles, 2 sports

Golf (4): 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979
Women's Volleyball (5): 2001

For more information contact the Athletic Director at 724-334-6750.

2006 SEASON RECAP
The Penn State New Kensington coed golf team concluded the fall 2006 season with a sixth-place finish at the rain-shortened Penn State University Athletic Conference Golf Championships at the Blue Course in State College. The two-day, 36-hole tournament, was reduced to 18-holes when the second round was cancelled due to heavy rain that rendered the course unplayable. Junior Jeff Mangone carded an 82 in the first round to finished ninth overall and earn All Conference honors. On the year, the Lions closed out its regular season with a 5-15 PSUAC record and a 9-17 overall mark. Top players were Mangone, freshman Pete Kaplon, and sophomore Brandon Cochran.