HERSHEY, Pa. - For the 30th time in its illustrious history, IUP men's golf has won the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championship this weekend at the Hershey Country Club. 

The Crimson Hawks rallied in Saturday's second and final round, shooting a tournament-best 297 to overtake Mercyhurst and win by four strokes. IUP finished with a 33-over 601 on the weekend, with Mercyhurst trailing at 37-over 605 and Shepherd in a distant third with a 52-over 620. 

IUP entered Saturday four strokes back of Mercyhurst after shooting a 20-over 304 on Friday. The Lakers shot a 21-over 304 Saturday, eight strokes worse than IUP. 

After Shepherd, Gannon (625), Clarion (626) and Cal U (627) finished 4-5-6. West Chester was seventh, Millersville was eighth, and Pitt-Johnstown was ninth. 

The Crimson Hawks finished the tournament with all five golfers in their lineup among the top-11 on the final leaderboard. Junior Nicholas Ward was IUP's top finisher, coming in fourth overall with a seven-over 149 for the weekend. His second round was the best of any IUP golfer during the tournament, shooting a one-over 72, including three birdies on the back nine. 

Sophomore Shaun Fedor and grad student Jeremy Eckenrode tied for fifth with a nine-over 151, while junior Jack Buccigross and sophomore Richie Kline tied for ninth with an 11-over 153. 

IUP's PSAC success
The 30 league titles are by far the most of any PSAC school. Slippery Rock, which doesn't have a men's golf team anymore, has 14, Clarion eight, West Chester five, Millersville four, with four other schools winning one each. 
 
This was IUP's fourth title in the last five seasons, successfully defending it's fall 2019 title, while also winning in 2017 and 2016. The Crimson Hawks have been dominant this century with 13 championships since 2000.
 
Despite having not yet coached a full traditional season since taking over in the spring of 2019, this marks the second conference crown for head coach Dan Braun. 

Up next
The Crimson Hawks will host the 57th Cecil Spadafora Invitational at the Indiana Country Club April 19-20. 

Follow
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