Men’s Golf Tied for Third in Day One of Mountain Valley Classic
ALTOONA, Pa. – The Penn State Altoona men's golf team opened its 2024-25 schedule on Friday, hosting day one of the annual Mountain Valley Collegiate Classic on its home course, Sinking Valley Country Club.
The Lions shot 307 as a team on the par 72 course, finishing the first round of the Classic in a tie for third place out 20 teams. Heidelberg University finished the day in first place after shooting 303, and Farmingdale State College was second with 304.
Penn State Altoona fielded three teams, as well as one individual, with the Lions' 'A' team leading the way.
Nicky Riscica (Newtown, PA/Council Rock North) had Penn State Altoona's low score on the day, shooting 1-over par, 73, to finish the round tied for fourth place out of 110 individuals. Peter Nusbaum (Pittsboro, NC/Thales Academy) was in a tie for eighth place by the day's end, after he shot 3-over, 75.
Nicholas Helsley (Altoona, PA/Bishop Guilfoyle) carded 77 to tie for 20th place. Jack Ankeny (Davidsville, PA/Conemaugh Township) and Andrew Bruce (Moon Township, PA/Moon) rounded out the 'A' team, scoring 82 and 88, respectively.
Penn State Altoona's 'B' squad placed 10th on the team leaderboard, compiling a score of 316.
Joey Sabol (State College, PA/State College) led the 'B' team by firing a 75, tying for eighth place individually. Roger Royer (Williamsburg, PA/Williamsburg Community) tied for 25th place, shooting 78.
Stephen Phillips (Gambrills, MD/DeMatha Catholic) carded an 81, Ethan Ellis (Pittsburgh, PA/North Catholic) scored an 82, and Daniel Batrus (Altoona, PA/Altoona) shot 86 to complete the 'B' team lineup.
Meanwhile, the Lions' 'C' team tied for 13th place with a score of 322.
Samuel Sharbaugh (Davidsville, PA/Conemaugh Township) had the top score among the 'C' team players, shooting 5-over par, 77, to come into a tie for 20th place by the conclusion of the round. Trent Querry (Altoona, PA/Bishop Guilfoyle) scored an 80, tying for 47th place after day one.
The 'C' team was rounded out by Maxwell Samangy (Crafton, PA/Carlynton), who shot 82, Anthony Carson (Broomall, PA/Cardinal O'Hara), who finished with an 83, and Sean McCullough (Kittanning, PA/West Shamokin), who had 84.
Additionally, Penn State Altoona had one golfer compete as an individual, as Luke Repko (Cresson, PA/Bishop Carroll) shot 89.
Penn State Altoona resumes play in the Mountain Valley Collegiate Classic tomorrow, Saturday, September 7. Play for round two of the Classic shifts to Summit Country Club in Cresson, and the day's action will be hosted by nearby, fellow Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference school Mount Aloysius College. Tee times are scheduled to begin at 9:40 a.m.
