ERIE, Pa. – Penn State Behrend men's golf head coach Erik Barzeski has been named Golf Digest's "Best Young Teachers in America" for 2016-17. 

Barzeski is one of 21 instructors listed to represent the Northeast. In his second season with the Lions, he led Behrend to its sixth straight Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) Championship and eighth overall, while mentoring an AMCC Champion and six All-Conference selections. 

Barzeski, an Erie native, helped lead North East High School to the first three of five consecutive Erie County League Championships. In 1995, he won the Erie District Golf Association junior tournament. Barzeski began instructing in late 2009, working with several PGA Tour instructors. He also published videos on YouTube and has taught beginners to players on the European Senior Tour. 

Barzeski currently operates one of the most well-known golf sites on the Internet – The Sand Trap. He is also the Director of Instruction Development "5 Simple Keys" and the head instructor at Golf Evolution.