New is the operative word for the Penn State New Kensington men's and women's golf team. New practice facility. New courses. New players.

For the first time since golf returned as an intercollegiate sport in 2000, the campus will field a team of all first-year players. Last year's team, which finished fifth in the Penn State University Athletic Conference, lost three players, Matt Knapp, Nathan Vertosick and Bob Adams, to graduation. Two others, Cody Dinger and Alex Baker, moved on to the University Park campus to complete their degree work. Coach Bill Woodard, in his 11th season at the helm, will rely on five newcomers to keep the team competitive in the eight-member league.

Junior Ben Hammel (Riverview) opens the season in the number one slot. The long-hitting math major is steady around the green and should post scores in the mid-70s. Freshman Corey Bobak (Hempfield) is slated for the number two position. Tall and powerful, Bobak can bomb it down the fairway as well as stroke it smoothly on the green. He should be in the 70s and in contention for medalist honors at all the matches. Bobak and Hammel will swap positions throughout the season. At number three is junior Chuck May. The engineering major is steady in all facets of the game and is capable of breaking 80 on a regular basis. The next three slots are still to be determined.

Augmenting the Lions' off-campus home course, the Links at Spring Church in Apollo, is an expanded practice facility on campus. A 10' x 10' x 20' driving and chipping net was installed recently to provide the players extra practice during the day. The cage is adjacent to the 10' x 20' artificial putting green that was installed last season. The practice facility was made possible through the generosity of the Honkus-Zollinger Charitable Foundation.

With New Kensington now the only Penn State campus in the western region offering intercollegiate golf, the schedule has been revised eastward. The Lions will play four new courses this season: Brookside Country Club in Allentown; Irem temple Golf Club in Wilkes-Barre; Edgemont Country Club in Philadelphia; and Valley Country Club in Sugarloaf. Penn National Golf Club in Fayetteville, home of Penn State Mont Alto, is the only course that the team has played annually since 2003.

Due to a quirk in the scheduling process, New Kensington, along with Penn College and Penn State Schuylkill, will not have a home match this year. All three campuses will rotate back on the home schedule next season. The Lions travel to Allentown for a PSUAC match at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 4, against Penn State Lehigh Valley at the Brookside Country Club.

Campus intercollegiate teams compete in the PSUAC and the United States Collegiate Athletic Association. Post-season tournaments include PSUAC conference championships and USCAA national championships.

For full schedules, visit http://www.psnkathletics.com online.