Because of Tuesday's terrorist attack, the Penn State men's golf team and the Penn State athletic department have decided not to participate in this weekend's Northern Collegiate tournament in Iowa City, Iowa.
"Considering the events of this past week, we feel it is better for the team to stay in State College and get in some good practices before the big District II tournament next weekend at James Madison University," said assistant coach Kirk Kayden.
Many of the players on the team agree with the decision.
"I think we are more comfortable not playing," said senior Josh Dawes. "When something like this happens, a golf tournament just becomes so trivial."
The Nittany Lions got off to a slow start this season in last weekend's opening tournament, the Badger Invitational, finishing 11th out of 15. Dawes and seniors Andy Latowski and Jim Fuller, sophomore Ted Neville, and surprising freshman Mark Leon represented the team in Wisconsin.
Leon, who hails from Brampton, Ontario, made an astounding 11 birdies, including five in a row. He finished 10 under for his last 14 holes and did it without any eagles. Nye said it was "extremely unusual" for a freshman to qualify for his first event.
"In reality, that might have been the only event I qualify for all season," Leon said. "That is how good our team is, we have 12 really strong players."
Dawes led the team with a total score of 221 finishing five over for the tournament and 33rd overall.
"It was a rocky start to the season but we are a young team with a lot of potential," Dawes said. "We lost a good friend and a good leader. It was a strange feeling being out there without him."
Dawes, of course, is referring to standout golfer, Matt Abbott, who graduated last year.
Nye has an optimistic outlook for his team this year, especially with its depth, but understands there is a lot of work ahead of them. To repeat the success the team had last season won't be easy with the graduation of standout golfer Matt Abbott.
"The hardest thing we are going to have to do is replace arguably the best player to ever go through this program" said Nye.
Abbott is the only player in Penn State golf history to be named to the All-Big Ten team two years in a row. Last season, he was an honorable mention All-American and, along with Latowski and Jeff Turton, he was a member of the All-District II team.
