Penn College Golfers Aim to Continue 'The Streak'

The bar continues to rise for Pennsylvania College of Technology golfers.

Over the past three seasons, the Wildcats have gone 100-0 in regular-season matches. They've won three straight conference championships and have had the individual conference champion, as well, each of those years. And coach Chet Schuman says it will get even better.

"Expectations this year probably are higher than ever before. We've got a real great group of young men coming in with a tremendous amount of talent," said Schuman, who is entering his seventh season.

"We only lost one of the starting six from last year. We bring everybody else back," Schuman continued. "If they play their game, we'll be tough to beat."

Penn College golfers returning from last season who finished among the Top 10 at the end-of-the-season Penn State University Athletic Conference Championship are defending individual champ Shaun McQuay (junior/Watsontown), Gilbert Balliet (junior/Watsontown), Tony Stopper (junior/Williamsport) and Len Nicholas (sophomore/Hollywood). All four will start in the team's opener, a multiteam event Wednesday at the White Deer Golf Course, along with freshmen T.C. Reynolds (Muncy) and Matt Winder (Montgomery).

Also on the squad are sophomores Craig Flint (Port Allegany) and Ryan Nornhold (Enola).

Schuman said the team's win streak doesn't put any undue pressure on his golfers.

"I don't think so. They just want to win. They don't want to lose," the coach said.

Scores in a recent Labor Day team outing give Schuman good reason for his optimism.

"Out of the eight (players), only one was in the 80s. If we have those scores at our match on Wednesday, it could be our lowest round ever. In 2002 we (four players) shot a 296 and that's been our lowest round ever on our home course," Schuman said. "I think they can beat that, if they play their game."

In recent seasons, some of the Wildcats' toughest competition has come from within their own ranks. That was evident at the PSUAC championships last fall when McQuay defeated now-graduated teammate Matt Haile (Sunbury) in a one-hole playoff for the title.

"Good players will come out and play with good players. We have some great talent in the valley and they're willing to come out and play because we have a good golf team," Schuman added.

(Complete rosters and season schedules are available on the college's Athletics Web site ).