Lions take second place at Irem Temple Country Club

Triano tees off at Irem Temple Golf Club.

October 4, 2016

Dallas, Pa. - The Nittany Lions competed in the Penn State Wilkes-Barre Invitational on Tuesday at Irem Temple Country Club in their final Penn State University Athletic Association event leading up to the combined PSAUC and United States Collegiate Athletic Association Championships next week. Players faced a myriad of course conditions ranging from a summer-like feel to the swirling winds of fall on a damp course that had seen five inches of rain over the past week.

As has been the trend in 2016, Hazleton turned in a solid set of scores, earning a second place finish with a team score of 343, besting third place finisher Penn State DuBois by 32 strokes but falling short of the event winner Penn State Wilkes-Barre, who claimed the top spot with a team total of 330 on their home course. Penn State Lehigh Valley finished fifth on the afternoon, but Nick Engelman took home today's medalist honors with a fine two over par round of 74.

Hazleton was led by freshman John Hawley (Mountain Top, Pa.) who finished in fourth place individually with a round of 10 over par 82. Hawley capped his front nine with a clutch 25 foot par save to finish the opening nine holes at three over, but like so many others on Tuesday, fell victim to the difficult 12th hole. Hawley's triple on the uphill par four led to bogies on four of his final six holes, but ended his day with a birdie on the 18th to head to clubhouse on a high note.

Sophomore Katie Behnert (Montandon, Pa.) supplied the Lions with her best finish of the year, adding an 11 over par 86 (par 75). Behnert started off the round minus one through her first four holes with a birdie on the par five, third hole, but four double bogies spoiled an otherwise fine effort. Behnert scattered five pars on the back nine to finish the day at 11 over. Rounding out the Hazleton scores were junior Zach Kyttle (Berwick, Pa.) who finished with an 87, while freshmen Joshua Provost (Hazleton, Pa.) and Geran Triano (Sugarloaf, Pa.) both carded scores of 88.

Next Up

Hazleton heads back to the Blue Course in State College, Pa. where they'll compete simultaneously in the PSAUC/USCAA Championships. The two day event begins Monday, October 10 and will feature teams from around the country. Katie Behnert will look to keep her momentum going as the reigning USCAA Women's Champion while she and her teammates look to compete for a PSUAC title.