DESTIN, Fl. – The Penn State Behrend men's golf team are in 38th place after day one of competition at the NCAA Division III Championships held at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort on the Raven and the Links.
The hosts, Methodist University, are in first place with a team score of 290. The Lions scored a 338 (+50) and had Scott Klein (Fairview, PA/Fairview) finish in the Top 100 with a team-low total of 79. He carded a 38 on the front nine and birdie the fourth hole on a par four and then tallied a 41 on the back nine.
Freshman Nicholas VanDamia (Erie, PA/Fort LeBoeuf) finished eight over par with an 80 for 18 holes. He birdied two holes on the front nine to card a 38 and tie Klein. VanDamia came back to fire a 42 on the last nine.
Dante Vetica (Hermitage, PA/Kennedy Catholic) was third on the team with a final round of 86 for the par 72 course. He birdied hole six and 10, carding a 45 on the front nine holes and a 41 on the back. Zach Polanski (Erie, PA/Cathedral Prep) tallied a 93 on the day (44-49), while Alec Italiano (Greensburg, PA/Hempfield) was able get a birdie on hole three with just two strokes, but finished with a score of 95.
The Lions return to action tomorrow for day two of competition. Behrend needs to finish among the Top 15 teams to advance to play on Thursday.
