Penn State Altoona’s men’s golf team wins fourth straight conference title

BUTLER, Pa. - For the fourth year in a row, the Penn State Altoona men's golf team is the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) champion.

The Lions shot 300 in the Tuesday, Oct. 15, round of the conference championship tournament at Butler Country Club, finishing with a two-day total of 612 to come in first place out of eight teams by a 27-shot margin.

It marks the fourth consecutive season that the Penn State Altoona men's golf team has won the AMCC, and it is the program's ninth conference championship in its history. The victory also gives Penn State Altoona the AMCC's automatic bid to compete in the NCAA Division III Championships, which are set for May 20-23, 2025, at Midvale Country Club in Penfield, New York.

"This team is special. We faced tough conditions the last two days, a stronger AMCC, and ups and downs throughout the season, but this is a resilient group, one through 16," said Penn State Altoona head coach Tom Koehle. "This championship was earned with hard work, teamwork, and dedication to each other. I couldn't be more proud."

Student-athletes Peter Nusbaum, of Pittsboro, North Carolina, won the AMCC individual title, propelled by a collegiate career-best round on Oct. 15. On the par 71 course, Nusbaum finished Tuesday's round 4-under, and his score of 67 ties for the lowest round of any individual golfer in Penn State Altoona men's golf history.

In two days, Nusbaum totaled 144, besting the second-place finisher by three shots.

"Peter played the round he's waited three years for," Koehle said. "What he did today was easily the greatest individual round in school history. He deserves all he gets. He is dedicated on and off the course, and it paid off today."

Andrew Bruce, of Moon Township, and Ethan Ellis, of Pittsburgh, both tied for third place individually with matching two-day scores of 155. Bruce shot 79 while Ellis scored 76.

Nicky Riscica, of Newtown, placed seventh on the player leaderboard with a two-round score of 160, including his 78 on Tuesday. Joey Sabol, of State College, tied for eighth place with 161, after he shot 81 in round two.

"To put all five players in the top eight shows the depth we have in the program right now. Credit goes to the athletes and families who are committed to our program, and the support of assistant coach Adam Landolfi, who's had an immense impact in six short weeks," said Koehle. "We have to recognize the support of our administration, athletic staff, and alumni, who give us the framework to succeed."

Mount Aloysius College finished as the AMCC runner-up with a two-day score of 639, and Pitt-Greensburg placed third with 647.

Next up, the Penn State Altoona men's golf team will conclude its fall schedule on Sunday and Monday, Oct. 20 and 21, by competing in The Melee, presented by Premier Collegiate Tournaments. The two-day event is held at Ford's Colony Country Club in Williamsburg, Virginia.

After that, the Lions golf team will break for the winter months before returning to action in March to get its spring schedule underway, leading into the NCAA postseason tournament in May.