“We’re ready to rock and roll,” Penn College golf coach Rob Lytle said as his team prepped for this weekend’s United East Conference Championship, where it seeks its fourth straight title.
Action on Friday and Saturday begins at 10 a.m. both days on the par 72, 7,121-yard Dauphin Highlands Country Club course in Harrisburg.
In the UE Fall Preview last October on the same course, Gunner Redmond, of Lock Haven, medaled for the Wildcats with a 72 to top a field of 47 golfers. As a team, Penn College recorded a 308, holding off Penn State Harrisburg by two strokes, Lancaster Bible College by seven strokes, and Rutgers-Camden by 10 strokes.
Also expected to be in the field are Penn State Abington, Penn State Berks, Penn State Brandywine and Wilson College.
“We’ve followed the process. We’re tuning up and getting our reps in,” Lytle said after his squad finished first in a six-team event on Saturday, where four of his golfers finished among the top five, and then was second among eight teams on Monday, where his No. 5 golfer, Brett Keenan, of Plymouth Meeting, shot a collegiate career-best 73.
The “process” has paid dividends, not only with three consecutive UE titles, but with the three trips to the NCAA Division III Championships that came with them.
In outings this spring, Redmond leads the team with a 74.3 per round scoring average; Chase Dillman, of Boyertown, is averaging 76.4; Brady Handy, of Huntingdon, is averaging 78.5; Keenan is averaging 80.3; and Logan Gawlinski, of Kittanning, is averaging 80.6.
Awaiting the championship winner is a trip to nationals on May 12-15 at the Mission Resort and Club at Howie-in-the-Hills, Florida.
For additional information, visit the Wildcats Athletics website . For more about the United East, visit the conference website .
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