Published: October 06, 2009 11:59 pm      

Potomac State captures fourth straight WPCC title

Dempsy repeats as individual winner; Catamounts to play for Pennsylvania state title on Oct. 12

APOLLO, Pa. — The Potomac State College golf team claimed its fourth straight victory at the Western Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference (WPCC) Championships Saturday, making it four in a row for the second time in school history, the first being 2000-03. The current streak started in 2006 and continued on Saturday with a 50-shot win over Butler County Community College.

Luke Dempsey led the Catamounts as he repeated as WPCC individual champion, being the only golfer to post both rounds in the 70s and win going away by five shots. On the first day he posted a solid 75 on the tough course to build a four-shot lead. The back nine of day one was the separating point where Dempsey posted a one-under par 35 on way to his lead. On the second day Dempsey shot 78 in very windy conditions and ended up with the five-shot victory.

“Luke accomplished something that some of the best golfers in PSC history did not do,” said Coach Aaron Edwards. “He won back-to-back conference titles. It’s tough to come back and defend any championship, but when you do it against all the teams in the conference and in tough conditions, it’s even harder.

“All the pressure was on him, and he stood tall and accomplished what he set out to do.”

The rest of the Catamount team followed strong as each of the members were placed on the all-tournament team for their top-10 finish for the event. Dempsey was followed by Jordan Schneider (fourth), Chris Pascoe (fifth), Porter Gervais (eight), Sean Young (10th), and Joe Zuravnsky (10th). Antonio Baroffio (third) and Ethan Danner (seventh) from Butler County Community College, Ryan Fichter (second) and Brian Koslosky (ninth) of CCAC North, and Joe Hanna (sixth) of CCAC Boyce rounded out the all-tournament team.

The entire Potomac State College team will join the rest of the top 26 golfers from the WPCC to compete in the PCAA state championship Oct. 12th at Penn National Golf Club in Fayetteville, Pa. The Catamounts will be out to claim their third straight PCAA Crown, something that has not happened in school history. Potomac State will face new opponents from the EPCC as the battle for the state championship combines the top 26 golfers from each of the two Pennsylvania conferences. The Catamounts will take their 31-0 NJCAA record with them as they try for another undefeated fall season.