Oct. 25, 2009

Results

IUP cruised to a 23-shot victory over California and Millersville behind four golfers who finished in the top seven and earned spots on the all-conference team at the rain-delayed PSAC tournament which concluded Sunday in Hershey.

Sophomore Brad Boyle and senior Gavin Smith tied for first place after the regulation 36 holes to force a playoff for the individual title. Smith had a par on the first extra hole and Boyle carded a birdie to claim medalist honors. Boyle followed Smith in 2007 and Leo Acklin a year ago to give IUP three different PSAC individual champions over the past three years.

Boyle and Smith both had two-round scores of 1-under par 143, including opening rounds of 70, to easily outdistance Paul Babashanian of California by seven shots. At the conclusion of the event, Smith was voted the tournament MVP by the PSAC head coaches.

Acklin, a junior, and senior Ryan Kennedy both had scores of 153 to tie for seventh and join Boyle and Smith on the all-conference team. Nic Milito was another shot back at 154, good for a tie for 11th.

The Crimson Hawks led by only four shots after the first round but pulled away from the seven-team field on Sunday to win their third straight conference title. IUP had a team score of 592 while California and Millersville both came in at 615.

Clarion was another shot back at 616, followed by West Chester at 630, Mercyhurst at 633 and Gannon at 644. The tournament was originally scheduled for last weekend but postponed by rain and poor course conditions. Only nine holes of the first round were played on Saturday due to rain with the final 27 contested on Sunday.

The PSAC tournament concludes a hugely successful fall season for IUP. The Crimson Hawks won five of six events and will enter the spring portion of its schedule seeking to repeat as region champions and earn a return trip to the NCAA national tournament, which will take place in suburban Indianapolis in May.