Nittany Lions Second After Opening Day of Rutherford

Rutherford Intercollegiate Day One Results
 
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – James Allen leads the field at 7-under while playing as an individual and the Penn State men’s golf team sits in second place after the opening day of the 45th-annual Rutherford Intercollegiate Saturday at Penn State’s Blue Course.
 
Penn State heads into Sunday’s final round at 5-over, 573, as a team. The Nittany Lions shot a 3-over, 287, in the opening round on a gusty morning before firing a 2-over, 286, during the drizzly afternoon. Penn State trails first-place No. 33 Michigan State by four strokes. The Spartans currently lead the team field at 1-over, 569.
 
Five of the 10 total Nittany Lions playing are currently in the top 20 heading into Sunday’s third and final round, with three in the top 10.
 
Allen, playing as an individual, fired a career-low tying 66 in the second round to highlight his stellar day. He opened that strong second round with two birdies and an eagle in the first four holes and never looked back as he finished the round at 5-under. Allen opened the day with a 2-under, 69, and finished Saturday’s two rounds at a field-best 7-under, 135, with a four-stroke lead over the current second-place golfers.
 
Junior Patrick Sheehan shot a 3-under, 68, in the morning round with the help of a bogey-free front nine. He carded an even 71 in the second round and sits tied for second at 3-under, 139, heading into Sunday’s final round.
 
Freshman Jake Griffin follows in a tie for seventh at an even 142 through the first two rounds. Griffin fired a 1-under, 70, in the first round and a 1-over, 72, in the second round.
 
Junior Jimmy Meyers carded a 3-over, 74, in the opening round, but rebounded with a 1-under, 70, in the second round to finish the day at 2-over, 144, and in a tie for 14th place.
 
Penn State’s team lineup was rounded out by junior Ben Smith (t-35) at 6-over, 148, and graduate student Lou Olsakovsky (t-41) at 7-over, 149.
 
Penn State also had four other individuals competing in addition to Allen. Freshman Morgan Lofland fired a 1-under, 70, in the second round and sits tied for 19th at 3-over, 145. Graduate student James McHugh is tied for 31st at 5-over, 147. Senior Hunter Bruce is tied for 35th at 6-over, 148….