Looking to build off the success of an Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference Championship this past October, the Penn State Altoona men's golf team will attempt to build momentum heading into the NCAA Division III National Championship in May.

The Lions will play a spring season against strong Division III and Division II competition, kicking off this weekend at The Ruckus, hosted by Premier Collegiate Tournaments in Williamsburg, Virginia. The Jamestown Course at Williamsburg National Golf Club will greet Lion golfers, as well as some of the Mid-Atlantic region's best teams. 

"Coming off our Spring Training trip to Hilton Head, our student-athletes are ready to tee it up against other programs and start a great stretch of golf to the NCAAs. Williamsburg offers good competition, a nice track to start spring, and will get us accustomed to travelling out of our comfort zone, something we need to get more used to as we prep for Nationals in May," said AMCC Coach of the Year, Tom Koehle.

The Lions will host the Penn State Division III Challenge on April 2-3 at the Penn State Golf Courses in State College, taking on the Blue Course in the first round and White Course in round two.

"This is the first time the event will feature all six Penn State affiliated DIII programs," Koehle noted. "We tried last spring, but the pandemic didn't allow all of our teams to participate. The four United East programs are prepping for their conference championship, and anytime we tee it up against Behrend, it is a close match, so I expect it to be a competitive event in a show of pride for Penn State."

Following the matchup of Penn State rivals, the Lions will travel west on Monday, April 11 to the Peter C. Rossin Memorial Invitational, hosted by Washington & Jefferson College. The host club is Southpointe Golf Club, former home to a PGA Korn Ferry Tour event. After returning home, Scotch Valley Country Club will play host to a tri-match between the Lions and nearby Mount Aloysius and Juniata Colleges on Wednesday, April 13.

The Lions will close the regular season on April 18-19, as Indiana University of Pennsylvania will host the IUP Cecil C. Spadafora Invitational, pitting the Lions against some of the strongest Division II programs in the region.

"This is a unique opportunity that will help as we prepare for the National Championship. Being able to test ourselves against some of the best DII talent and schools we recruit against will hopefully show what we are capable of as the season draws to a close. We are grateful to Coach Braun, a Penn Stater, for the opportunity and look forward to holding our own in a strong field," Koehle said.

For the fifth time in program history, the Lions will conclude their season at the NCAA Division III National Championship, May 10-13 at Mission Inn Resort, outside Orlando, Florida. For Koehle, the return to the Tournament comes with high expectations.

"Our goal is threefold. First, we want to represent Penn State Altoona and the AMCC with class and sportsmanship. Second, we want to be the first AMCC team to make a cut at the NCAA Tournament, and finally, once we make the cut, to finish off what has already been a record-setting season for our program," said Koehle.

Six players will vie for the five starting spots at the NCAA Tournament. All six players ranked in the top 15 in the AMCC fall scoring average, including five of the top eight.

Junior Andrew Ferguson (Altoona, PA/Tyrone) was named AMCC Player of the Year for the second consecutive season, after claiming the AMCC individual crown at Butler Country Club. Sophomore Trey Heffelfinger (Mount Union, PA/Mount Union) was voted first team All-AMCC and set the program record with a 5-under par, 67, at the Lions' home course, Sinking Valley Country Club, and led the AMCC in scoring average with 75.0. Freshman Logan Divald (North Huntingdon, PA/Norwin) was picked to the All-AMCC second team, and freshmen Jacob Carlin (Fayetteville, PA/Chambersburg), Nathan Graham (North Huntingdon, PA/Norwin), and Joey Toth (South Park, PA/South Park) will fill out the Lions' lineup as they continue to build on a record-setting season.

The squad shot five of the 12 lowest rounds in program history, including breaking the old team mark of 296 by shooting 289 at the Gatorade Intercollegiate at Zoar Village Golf Club last September. The team also shot 295 at Summit Country Club on day two of the Mountain Valley Collegiate Classic. 

Ferguson set the individual school record by shooting 68 on day two of the Gatorade Intercollegiate, only to have it eclipsed by Heffelfinger less than three weeks later.