The Penn State men's golf team hopes the long winter break doesn't affect its play after a solid fall season.

"It's pretty tough after such a long layoff to get your feel back around the greens," Penn State junior Robert Rohanna said. "Hopefully we can get going quickly after the winter break."

Rohanna and the rest of the men's golf team begin their spring campaign next Monday at the Cleveland Golf Palmetto Intercollegiate. It will be the first time the team has competed since October.

Penn State is looking to build on some strong performances in the fall, including a third place finish in its last match at the 22nd Annual Hoya Invitational, where Rohanna took first place individually. It also played well at the Mattaponi Springs Shootout, taking first place overall.

"We're looking forward to getting back out there and playing," Penn State head coach Greg Nye said.

Nye said he is optimistic about the season and that the veteran leadership will be important coming off the long break. He said he has been pleased by the team's progress during the long layoff as it's been practicing in Holuba Hall.

Nye said he is hoping to carry this momentum into the spring.

"With our freshmen becoming more accustomed to college life, I feel they can play a large part in the upcoming season," Nye said. "Chad Bricker also has the potential to help this team."

Bricker won the Pennsylvania Amateur Golf Championship last summer and had an eighth place finish in last year's second match to help the Nittany Lions to their first team title of the season.

Along with the sophomore Bricker, a couple of freshmen have contributed.

Freshman Kevin Foley has been in the team's top three at every event this past year, along with being the team medallist at the Mattaponi Springs Shootout. His seven-under at the event was good enough for a tie for sixth overall.

Foley's freshman teammate, Jim Markovitz, has also been playing well in his first season. Markovitz has been in Penn State's top four in four consecutive matches.

With this combination of youth and veteran leadership, the men's golf team expects to have a successful spring.

"I am very confident we can outperform last fall's performance," Nye said.