Penn State returns to the course in one week’s time as they travel to the Cullan Brown Intercollegiate hosted by the University of Kentucky in Lexington on October 6-7.
FARMINGTON, Pa. – The Penn State men’s golf team found its footing over the final 36 holes in Western Pennsylvania finishing the Nemacolin Collegiate Invitational as one of just six teams in red figures in the 19-team field this week at 7-under.
Freshman Nick Werner also caught his stride this week placing runner-up at the Shepherd’s Rock Individual at 6-under, 210, just two strokes behind Seton Hall’s Jace Hulett.
After struggling in his first collegiate event north of the border, Werner says he’s more adjusted to life at college and feels more settled in Happy Valley. He was able to find his game this week highlighted by Tuesday’s round where he hit all but one fairway and 16-of-18 greens in regulation.
“I felt really calm out on the course this week,” mentioned Werner. “I didn’t overly complicate things, I kept it simple. I was never in any legitimate trouble today and my speed on the greens was really good today. My longest putt for par was around five feet.”
As a team, Penn State finished the week 7-under, 857, securing its best finish relative to par since firing 24-under, 840, at the Colleton River Collegiate in March of 2023.
The host Mountaineers retained their title finishing the week 36-under while Western Carolina (18-under), Seton Hall (17-under), James Madison (17-under) and William & Mary (10-under) rounded out the top five ahead of the Nittany Lions.
Fellow freshman Jackson Saroney paced the Nittany Lions at Mystic Rock going bogey-free over his final 16 holes on Tuesday to card a 2-under, 70, following his 3-under, 69, from the second round Monday. Saroney finished the week tied for 15th in the 100-player field at 3-under, 213.
Saroney mentioned starting slow over his first round and a half of the week, playing well but not scoring, and just wasn't as sharp as he'd hoped to before the putts started to fall.
"My ball striking was great this week," commented Saroney. "I hit some really good iron and wedge shots that put me in good position and set up a lot of birdie opportunities. I started hitting the ball better off the tee as the tournament went on and felt like my overall game was pretty good this week."
Junior Alex Creamean secured his second-straight top-20 finish to open the season in a tie for 19th at 2-under, 214, highlighted by a 5-under, 67 during Monday’s second round while classmate Tim Peters climbed 24 spots following a 3-under, 69, during Tuesday’s final round to finish the week tied for 44th at 3-over, 219.
Peters went 4-under over the final 36 holes after opening with a 7-over, 79. Senior Andres Barraza also finished the week T-44 following back-to-back even par rounds of 72 after opening with a 3-over, 75. Fellow senior Billy Pabst Jr. rounded out the team scoring for the week at 12-over, 228.