STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – After a weather-shortened opening day to the Penn State Division III Challenge on Saturday afternoon, the Penn State Altoona men's golf team found itself in first place out of six teams.

Saturday's round, which was played at the Penn State Blue Course, was shortened to a nine-hole event, as storms, rain, and high winds forced multiple stoppages in play.

By the end of the day, Penn State Altoona – playing in its first event of the spring season – held first place with a team score of 151 through nine holes. Penn State Abington was second with 162, and Penn State Berks was in third place with 163.

Penn College ended Saturday in fourth with a team score of 165, Penn State Behrend was fifth with 171, and Penn State Harrisburg was sixth with 172.

Peter Nusbaum (Pittsboro, NC/Thales Academy) was 1-under par through nine holes, shooting 35 to lead the Lions' starting five and rank first out of 35 individuals on the day. Trey Heffelfinger (Mount Union, PA/Mount Union) was even through nine, shooting 36 to hold second place on the player leaderboard.

Jack DiTrani (Hinsdale, IL/Benet Academy) shot a 2-over 38 to finish Saturday's round in a tie for third place. Penn State Altoona's starting five was rounded out by Owen Wise's (Lewistown, PA/Mifflin County) 42 and Michael Gloth's (Glenwood, MD/Glenelg) 43, with Wise tying for 17th overall and Gloth tying for 21st place.

Penn State Altoona also had three other players compete as individuals in Saturday's round.

Nathan Graham (North Huntingdon, PA/Norwin) was tops among the Lions' individual competitors, finishing the day in a tie for fifth place on the player leaderboard after shooting a 3-over 39. Logan Divald (North Huntingdon, PA/Norwin) carded a 41 to finish the day in a tie for 11th place individually, and Jacob Carlin (Fayetteville, PA/Chambersburg) was in a tie for 22nd place by day's end after shooting 43.

The second and final day of this weekend's Penn State Division III Challenge is tomorrow, Sunday, April 2, with day two action shifting to the Penn State White Course. Tee times are scheduled to begin at 10 a.m., and the round is expected to return to a full, 18-hole day.