"Every hole, every day, was like skiing a double black diamond trail," Penn State men's golf head coach Greg Nye said. "That's how difficult this golf course was."

This was the feeling that all the Penn State men's golfers expressed after the grueling 72-hole Big Ten Championships this weekend.

The team ended with a score of 77- over-par but managed to finish tied for sixth in the field of 11 at the par 71, 7,444 yard Scarlet Course in Columbus, Ohio.

"It may be the hardest golf course I've ever played in my collegiate golf career," Penn State junior Robert Rohanna said.

"Every par felt like a birdie. It was mentally draining."

Rohanna led the team individually with a tie for 4th at 11-over-par 295. He also carded one of only four rounds of under-par golf in the tournament.

"Robert has played great golf all year," Nye said. "He made the All-Tournament team this weekend and has a very good chance of making the All-Conference team when voting is done this week."

Penn State sophomore Chad Bricker also turned in a stellar performance for the Nittany Lions by finishing in a tie for seventh place at a 14-over-par 298.

"I just had to hit fairways, hit the middle of the greens, and trust my putting," Bricker said. "It could've been a lot worse with as hard as the course was."

Despite having its highest score in relation to par all season, the Lions were able to beat some teams that were ranked higher nationally.

Nye said he was pleased at the way the team battled through adversity and that he was satisfied knowing the Lions had beaten some higher ranked teams along the way.

Penn State freshman Kevin Foley finished in a tie for 24th place after shooting a 22-over-par 306.

"Foley has a chance to be conference freshman of the year," Nye said. "He has played outstanding golf all year and has a real opportunity to win the award."

Every individual in the field of 55 finished the tournament with a score over par, showing that the real winner of the event may have been the Buckeyes' Scarlet Course.

"It is one of the most difficult setups I have ever seen," Nye said. "The golf course was long, tight and well bunkered. The hole locations were on the edges of fast greens. It was a very trying event for everyone that competed."