The 2017 USCAA Golf National Championship Preview
The 2017 USCAA Golf National Championship tees off Monday, October 9th at 9:00 A.M. from the Blue Course at Penn State University. Represented in the tournament will be 26 institutions and nearly 125 golfers. The USCAA Women’s Golf Invitational will feature five teams and nearly a dozen female golfers competing for the top Women’s Golf honor in the USCAA. Included below is information about each team making the trip to State College, Pennsylvania. For more information about the tournament, including round results, statistics, and awards please follow USCAA Golf National Championship website.
Apprentice School
Coming off a strong finish last year, The Apprentice School Builders enter this year as contenders to win the National Championship. They are led are Jordan Plogger and Phillip Nelson, both averaging just under 78 strokes per round on the year.
Bluefield State University
As defending National Champions, Bluefield State University seeks to repeat their dominant performance and will rely on team leaders Caleb Cox and Marcus Santoro to bring home the national championship again.
Carlow University - Women
Carlow is sending two women to this year’s USCAA Women’s Golf Invitational Tournament. Natalie Abt is averaging 80 strokes per round and will be competing in the Women’s Golf Invitational.
Cleary University
Led by Trevor Spagnoletti and Robert Burnell, Cleary University is poised for a strong performance in 2017. The team average is 321.
Cleary University- Women
Cleary is sending one participant to this year’s National Championship. Virginia Gilton is averaging 88 strokes per round and looks to compete for top honors in the women’s field.
Georgia Northwestern Technical College
First-year member Georgia Northwestern is led by Adrian Clark and Lane Strickland who are averaging just under 80 strokes per round. Their team average is 318.20.
Kent State University at Tuscarawas
Kent State Tuscarawas boasts a team average just under 330, and is led Jacob Moore and Brice Dennis, who both are hovering around 80 strokes per round this season.
University of Maine at Augusta
The only golfer to representing University of Maine Augusta for this year’s National Championship, Evan Kordaliski brings an 82 average into the Blue Course. Kordaliski’s best carded round this year was an 80.
Mid-Atlantic Christian University
Between the two, Matt Cooper and Ryan Kelley combine for a roughly 80 average. MACU is not sending a team but looks to these two to contend for individual honors this year.
NHTI
Taylor Post will be NHTI’s #1 golfer this week. His round average of 81.75 leads his team and will look for a strong showing in the opening round.
Paul Smith's College
Paul Smith’s returns with a with a full team and is led by Austin Delosh, who has proven to be a force on the course this year. His season-best 76 will be crucial for Paul Smith’s to win the top prize at this year’s National Championship.
Penn State Brandywine
Brad Dawson leads all Brandywine golfers with an average of 83.25 strokes per round this year. Kyle North and Connor Sadoff bring to the championship an average hovering right at 90 strokes per round.
Penn State DuBois
Penn State DuBois will look to claim a National Championship this year. With a team average of 317.80, DuBois has two golfers averaging 77 strokes per round and is sound from top to bottom.
Penn State Fayette
With a season-best score of 76 this year, Gage Clark will lead Fayette along with Charlie Fetzner. Fayette looks to improve in just their second year as a golf program.
Penn State Hazleton
Gerian Triano carded a 74 this season, but has averaged 81.25 strokes per round over the course of the year. Hazleton’s team average is 341.
Penn State Lehigh Valley
Brian Zinman is averaging one stroke above par on the year and leads the Lehigh Valley team into State College this year. Nick Engleman and Evan Fahs are capable of strong performances for Lehigh Valley to capture this year’s National Championship.
Penn State Mont Alto
Last year’s Coach of the Year Bill Burke brings a well-coached squad to the championships. Top golfer Tom Shearer is averaging 78.25 strokes per round.
Penn State New Kensington
New Kensington’s Daniel Smith’s shot a 73 on this year – his best round of golf on the year – and looks to use that as confidence going into a tough field of individual golfers at this year’s National Championships.
Penn State Schuylkill
Joe Drasdis leads all Schuylkill golfers by 10 strokes on the season. Drasdis is averaging 85 strokes per round this season.
Penn State Wilkes Barre
A mainstay in the PSUAC, Wilkes Barre comes to State College with a solid 334.50 team average on the season. They are anchored by Johnathon Wilson and Anthony Shaver.
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College
Team leader Colton Kuppler will be vying for top honors in the individual category. His average of 74.50 strokes per round leads all Pomeroys and will be pivotal for Saint Mary of the Woods to win the National Championship.
SUNY Canton
Matthew Russell will be eyeing first place in this year’s individual championship. He has a team-best 73 on the year and leads his Roos who enters the championships with a 340 season average.
SUNY Canton - Women
Cecelia Neally leads all SUNY Canton golfers with an average of 87 strokes per round.
SUNY Delhi
As one of the top teams in this year’s field, SUNY Delhi is very strong coming into State College. Russell Herbert leads all Bronco golfers with a season average of 76.50 strokes per round. Delhi’s team average is 309.25. Delhi looks for a strong first day to separate themselves from the field in State College.
SUNY Delhi - Women
Alison Agoglia has averaged 86 strokes per round this year and will be just one of two SUNY Delhi women selected to compete in this year’s invitational.
SUNY - ESF
SUNY-ESF is led by Sean Barron and Will Hoffman. Barron is averaging 75.6 strokes per round and Hoffman is second-best at 83.60 strokes per round.