Adam Stawski wins PSUAC golf championship; finishes fifth nationally in USCAA

FINAL ROUND 74 TAKES PSUAC TITLE BY FOUR STROKES
Earns All America and Academic All America Honors

Penn State New Kensington junior Adam Stawski (Plum) shot a 2-over 74 for a two-round total of 152 (78-74) to win the Penn State University Athletic Conference individual title at the Penn State Blue Course in State College, Pa.

Stawski came back from three-shot first-round deficit with a one-under 35 on the back nine (his front nine), that included an eagle at the par-5 18th. The PSUAC crown avenged his runner-up finish as a freshman in 2009.

As a team, the New Kensington Lions held onto third place in the eight-team conference championships, 12 strokes behind second-place Penn College (339-339-678). Penn State Mont Alto won the title with a 313-336-649 tally.

Sophomore Ben Hammel (Riverview) carded an 85-84-169 to finish in eighth place and join Stawski on the PSUAC ALL-Conference team. Senior Matt Schrader (West Shamokin) shot 82-92-174. Freshman Corey Boback (Hempfield) shot his collegiate-best 92 in the final round to secure third place for New Kensington at 348-342-690. During the regular season, New Kensington could muster a finish of no better than fifth in three conference tournaments.

"The team improved as the season progressed and all four players shot their best rounds of the year at championships," said Bill Woodard, in his 11th-year as head coach at New Kensington. "Consistency is the hallmark of Adam's game and he played to his potential."

In the United States Collegiate Athletic Association national championships that ran concurrent with the PSUAC tournament. Stawski finished fifth nationally, eight strokes behind the victor, Kyle Kapturowsk of Daemen (NY) College, 75-69-144, and earning USCAA All-America honors for the second time. He was fourth in the 2009 tournament. In addition to his golfing prowess, Stawski was named to the USCAA Academic All-America team, completing a rare All-America double. Then New Kensington Lions finished 12th-nationally in the 23-team field. Daemen took the first-place trophy with a 304-301-605.

"I know that the guys are a little disappointed in their own efforts, thinking they could have scored better, but I'm proud of what they did in the tournament and throughout the year," said Woodard, who is the alumni and public relations specialist at the campus. "My assistant coach, John Mandak, worked with them all season and his efforts came to fruition as the payers responded when it counted most."

Stawski is the second New Kensington player the win the PSUAC individual golf title. John Hook won the 2007 crown. Stawski is the second USCAA All-America golf selection with Matt Miller earning the honor in 2008. Stawski and Jeremy Hurt (men's basketball, 2007-08) are the only New Kensington student-athletes to garner both USCAA All-America and Academic All-America in the same season.

The USCAA is a national organization that is geared to provide athletic opportunities to small colleges — those with enrollments of less than 2,500. It sponsors 11 national championship tournaments in men's and women's sports. Established in 2001, the USCAA was incorporated to provide an opportunity for members to compete on an equal level of competition with schools of similar size and athletic programs. Headquartered in Newport News, Va., the organization has more than 82 member institutions in 24 states, stretching from Maine to California.

Penn State New Kensington 348 342 690
Adam Stawski 78 74 152
Ben Hammel 85 84 169
Matt Schrader 83 92 175
Corey Bobak 110 92 202
Chuck May 103 108 211
Liam Fitzgerald 102 110 212

PSUAC TOP TEN INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Adam Stawski New Kensington 78 74 152
Adam Poulson Mont Alto 77 79 156
Chase King Mont Alto 75 83 158
Matt Boozer Wilkes-Barre 84 78 162
Jake Hoover Mont Alto 79 88 167
Jesse Newman Penn College 84 84 168
Will Fulton Wilkes-Barre 86 82 168
Ben Hammel New Kensington 85 84 169
Corey Teeple Penn College 91 79 170
Bryce Petersheim Penn College 82 89 171

PSUAC TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP
Penn State Mont Alto 313-336-649
Penn College 339-339-678
Penn State New Kensington 348-342-690
Penn State Wilkes-Barre 699
Penn State Schuylkill 735
Penn State Hazelton 749
Penn State Brandywine 750
Penn State Lehigh Valley 765

USCAA TOP TEN INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Kyle Kapturowski Daemen Co. 75 69 144 E
Ben Hunter Apprentice 77 70 147 +3
Justin Robinson LndnwoodIL 77 72 149 +5
Kyle Mutter Apprentice 75 76 151 +7
Adam Stawski New Kensington 78 74 152 +8
Andy Levins NHTI 77 75 152 +8
Jake Roth LndnwoodIL 82 73 155 +11
Jered Hogan LndnwoodIL 78 77 155 +11
Kyle Harman Daemen Co. 80 76 156 +12
Reynold Brown UMPI 77 79 156 +12
Ryan Kapanowski RochesterC 81 75 156 +12
Adam Poulson Mont Alto 77 79 156 +12

USCAA TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP
1 Daemen College 304 301 605
2 Lindenwood-Bellevill 315 305 620
3 NHTI 319 310 629
4 Apprentice School 329 307 636
5 Rochester College 321 321 642
6 Penn State Mont Alto 313 336 649
7 Maine, U of Presque 339 328 667
8 SUNY Canton 335 343 678
Penn College 339 339 678
10 SUNY-ESF 340 342 682
11 West Virginia Tech 341 347 688
12 Penn State New Kensington 348 342 690
13 Cleary University 349 344 693
14 PSU Wilkes-Barre 358 341 699
15 Penn State Schuykill 365 370 735
16 Maine Augusta 363 380 743
17 Penn State Hazleton 379 370 749
18 Penn State Brandywin 364 386 750
19 PSU Lehigh Valley 390 375 765