BRADFORD, Pa. – The Penn State Altoona men's golf team posted a strong start to its 2023-24 campaign on Saturday afternoon, when the Lions took first place out of 12 teams in the Pitt-Bradford Invitational at The Pennhills Club.

Penn State Altoona shot 304 as a team to finish atop the leaderboard. Westminster College was the runner-up at 310, while Hobart College placed third with 321. The Lions also finished ahead of fellow Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference squads from Hilbert College (fourth place, 323), Pitt-Greensburg (tied for sixth place, 327), Mount Aloysius College (tied for sixth place, 327), Pitt-Bradford (ninth place, 331), La Roche University (10th place, 343), and Carlow University (12th place, 381).

Individually, the Lions swept the top three places on the player leaderboard. Jack DiTrani (Hinsdale, IL/Benet Academy) won the individual title, shooting 73 to rank as the lowest score on the day out of 64 golfers. Peter Nusbaum (Pittsboro, NC/Thales Academy) was the runner-up by carding 74, and Andrew Bruce (Moon Township, PA/Moon) took third place overall after firing a 75.

Owen Wise (Lewistown, PA/Mifflin County) and Sean McCullough (Kittanning, PA/West Shamokin) rounded out the Lions' starting five, with Wise shooting 82 and McCullough carding an 85.

Penn State Altoona also fielded a 'B' team, which finished in a tie for sixth place on the leaderboard.

Daniel Batrus (Altoona, PA/Altoona) led the Lions' 'B' squad by shooting 79 and tying for 11th place individually. Stephen Phillips (Gambrills, MD/DeMatha Catholic) shot 81 to tie for 18th place.

Jack Ankeny (Davidsville, PA/Conemaugh Township) fired an 82, while Ethan Ellis (Pittsburgh, PA/North Catholic) and Maxwell Samangy (Crafton, PA/Carlynton) carded 85 and 92, respectively.

Additionally, Penn State Altoona had two golfers compete as individuals. Trent Querry (Altoona, PA/Bishop Guilfoyle) shot 83, while Anthony Carson (Broomall, PA/Cardinal O'Hara) scored 86.

Penn State Altoona men's golf returns to action next weekend for its first two-day tournament of the season, when the Lions will compete in The Gauntlet, presented by Premier Collegiate Tournaments, on Sunday, September 10 and Monday, September 11. Both rounds are held at Dauphin Highlands Golf Course in Harrisburg.