McQuay Breaks Par in Season-Opening Win
Published 09.05.2007
The Penn College golf team victoriously opened its season Tuesday at the Nemacolin Woodlands Mystic Rock Golf Course in Farmington, a Pete Dye-designed course tucked away in the Laurel Mountains of Western Pennsylvania. Mystic Rock is the home of the 84 Lumber Classic, a PGA Tour event; has played host to many of today's top professionals in the world and is ranked in the Top 25 Resort Courses by Golf Digest.
Shaun McQuay, of Warrior Run, shot his best round of collegiate golf a 2-under-par 70 on the toughest course ever played by the senior Wildcat golfer. He was followed by sophomore Matt Winder, of Montgomery High School, who shot a round of 77. They represented two of the day's only three scores in the 70s.
Penn College's team score was 311; the second-place team was Penn State Mont Alto at 346.
The remainder of the golf team came in as follows: Ryan Nornhold, East Pennsboro, 80; Doug Wagner, Northwest Area, 84; Dean Bell, Perkiomen Valley, 85; and Eric Schall, Jersey Shore, 87. All of Penn College golfers finished in the topeight among the 27 competing golfers.
"These young men played with a lot of heart," said coach Chet Schuman. "What the scores do not tell you is that some of these people played under some very stressful situations. We had one with a very bad left wrist, one with a bruised left thumb and one that encourntered a severe nosebleed that could have caused him to withdraw."
"They played some of the best golf that I have seen among the many golfers that have played for the college," Schuman added. "Some played a very strong front nine and then gutted out the back to shoot well, while another hung on the front and then went 3 over par for the back nine to finish very well."
When asked what helped them in shooting well, Schuman said all of the golfers felt that playing the course the day before allowed them to better visualize where they needed to place shots, determine clubs to use on various holes, and to get readyfor very fast andangulating greens.
The team returns home Wednesday at White Deer Golf Course.