Men's Golf Starts PA Classic in Third Place
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - The Penn State Altoona men's golf team resumed its 2025-26 schedule on Saturday, competing in its first round of the semester while hosting day one of the Pennsylvania Classic at Penn State's Blue Course.
The Penn State Altoona 'A' team shot 314 on the par 72 course, finishing the day in third place out of 22 squads. Allegheny College finished day one on top with a score of 308, while Pitt Bradford placed second with 311. Susquehanna University and Washington & Jefferson College tied Penn State Altoona's 'A' team for third place with each getting a score of 314.
Penn State Altoona ranked atop the standings in the Penn State Division III Challenge, a competition within the tournament for the participating Penn State Division III teams. The Lions' 314 outranked Penn State Harrisburg (320), and Penn State Berks (327), Penn State Behrend (332), and Penn State Abington (334).
For the Lions' 'A' team, Daniel Batrus (Altoona, PA/Altoona) and Joey Sabol (State College, PA/State College) led the way by shooting 5-over-par, with both golfers tying for 15th place out of 120 individual golfers.
Peter Nusbaum (Pittsboro, NC/Thales Academy) shot 78 to place 23rd individually. Jack Ankeny (Davidsville, PA/Conemaugh Township) and Nicholas Helsley (Altoona, PA/Bishop Guilfoyle) both tied for 51st place with matching scores of 82.
Meanwhile, the Penn State Altoona 'B' team ended Saturday's round in 11th place with a team score of 321.
Austin Duelley (Austin, TX/Lake Travis) and Nicky Riscica (Newtown, PA/Council Rock North) had the 'B' squad's low in the round, as each player shot six-over-par to tie for 23rd individually with their matching scores of 78.
Ethan Ellis (Pittsburgh, PA/North Catholic) scored 82 to tie for 51st place. Sean McCullough (Kittanning, PA/West Shamokin) tied for 59th after carding a score of 83. Arthur Franciosa Jr. (Purchase, NY/Harrison) shot 87 to tie for 93rd.
The Penn State Altoona 'C' team ended Saturday's round in 22nd place with a team score of 263.
Trent Querry (Altoona, PA/Bishop Guilfoyle) shot 84 to place 68th, Stephen Phillips (Gambrills, MD/DeMatha Catholic) shot 85 to place 77th, and Roger Royer (Williamsburg, PA/Williamsburg Community) shot 94 to place 114th.
Andrew Bruce (Moon Township, PA/Moon) competed as an individual, shooting three-over-par to tie for fourth place with his score of 75.
The second and final day of this weekend's Pennsylvania Classic is tomorrow, Sunday, March 29, with play for the men's tournament continuing on the Blue Course.
