WEST MIDDLESEX, Pa. – The Penn State Behrend men's golf team won their third straight and fifth overall Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) Championships with a 603 two-day total playing at the Oak Tree Country Club.
Dante Vetica (Hermitage, PA/Kennedy Catholic) repeated as the individual champion after carding a 73 and then a low score of 71 on day two for a 144 score. The Lions had a 25-stroke advantage over second-place Pitt-Bradford (627), while Pitt-Greensburg came in third (644).
Vetica was one of three Behrend golfers in the Top 10. Nicholas VanDamia (Erie, PA/Fort LeBoeuf) finished second overall with a 148 total. The sophomore tied Vetica after day one (73) and then fired a 75 on day two.
Roman Klaric (Hermitage, PA/West Middlesex), participating in his first conference championship, took third on the team and fourth overall. The newcomer shot a 74-78 to finish with a 152.
Junior Scott Klein (Fairview, PA/Fairview) was able to take nine strokes off his first day total (85) to end with the squad's third-best score of the day with a 76 to end with 161. Brian Ropiecki (North East, PA/North East) also improved from day one. The freshman managed an 80 after carding an 83 on day one for a 163 total.
With the win, the Lions earn the AMCC's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
Lisa Giancola competed against two other golfers at the inaugural women's conference championships, finishing second after falling in one-hole playoff to Daniela Battisti of Mt. Aloysius.
