*Portions of this release courtesy of Michael Ballard, Rutgers-Camden sports information director

PENNSAUKEN, N.J. – The Penn State Harrisburg men’s golf team overcame the rain and wet conditions on the final day of the 2012 North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) Golf Championships to capture its second consecutive NEAC championship Sunday. 

As the NEAC champion, Penn State-Harrisburg receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Championships, which will be held May 15-18 at the Mission Inn Resort & Club in Howey-in-the-Hills, Florida.

The Nittany Lions held an eight-stroke lead over host Rutgers University-Camden after the opening round of play on Saturday and finished with the same margin after both teams shot a 335 Sunday.  Harrisburg carded a two-day total of 315-335—650 in the NEAC Championships, which was played at the par-70, 6,250-yard Pennsauken Country Club.

Rutgers-Camden finished second at 323-335—658, followed by Penn State-Abington at 328-338—666.  SUNY Cobleskill finished in fourth at 336-339—675, while Penn State Berks came in fifth at 336-349—685.  Rounding out the competition was Keuka College (352-339—691), Cazenovia College (376-371—747) and Wells College (413-394—807).

Penn State-Harrisburg was led by freshman Matt Plummer (Mechanicsburg, Pa.), who carded a two-day total of 73-77—150 (10-over par) to finish as the medalist in a field of 40 golfers.  Plummer’s fantastic outing earned him both the Rookie and Player of the Year honors, while Harrisburg head coach Brad Kane was selected by his peers as the NEAC Coach of the Year for the second straight season.

Keuka College senior Curtis Evanicki (Honeoye, N.Y.) finished second at 76-78—154, followed by Penn State-Abington freshman Dylan Amin (Langhorne, Pa.), who shot a two-day total of 79-78—157.

Rounding out the champion Penn State-Harrisburg team was senior Max Hrip (Mechanicsburg, Pa.), who finished tied for eighth place (82-83—165), freshman CJ Foust (Palmyra, Pa.), who was 11th at 80-87—167, sophomore Steve Foell (Pottstown, Pa.), who was tied for 12th at 80-88—168 and his brother, sophomore Ryan Foell (Pottstown, Pa.), who finished tied for 18th at 82-89—171.

The 2012 All-Conference teams were also selected shortly following the conclusion of the championship, with the top 15 individual performers from the two-day event making up the First, Second and Third Team, respectively.  They are as follows:

 

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The North Eastern Athletic Conference has thirteen NCAA Division III member institutions which include: Cazenovia College, College of St. Elizabeth, Gallaudet University, Keuka College, Lancaster Bible College, Pennsylvania State University - Abington, Pennsylvania State University - Berks, Pennsylvania State University -Harrisburg, SUNY Cobleskill, SUNY Institute of Technology, SUNY Morrisville State College, Wells College, and Wilson College.  Associate members are: Hilbert College (M Lacrosse), Medaille College (M&W Lacrosse) and Rutgers University - Camden (M Golf).  The North Eastern Athletic Conference has partnered with the North Atlantic Conference in the sports of baseball, women’s lacrosse, and men’s and women’s tennis.