University Park, Pa. — Five Penn State golfers including seniors T.J. Howe (Osceola, Pa.) and Tommy McDonagh (East Norwalk, Conn.) and the sophomore trio of Anthony DeGol (Hollidaysburg, Pa.), Ernesto Marin (Miami, Fla.) and Jay Woodward (Bridgeport, W.Va.) were appointed to the Division I PING All-Northeast Regional Team, as announced by the Golf Coaches Association of America on Tuesday afternoon. The five Nittany Lions are joined by 147 players across six regions – Northeast, East, Southeast, Midwest, Central and West – to earn the all-region honors for 2011.
To date, the Nittany Lions have twice reached a selection high with four Nittany Lions selected All-Region in 2007-08 and 2009-10. The five-player selection for this season sets a new standard for the program in years to come.
Howe, the sole Nittany Lion selected to play in the NCAA Regional tournament, led the Penn State team through the 2010-11 season with a 74.1 round average. Howe’s regular season play consisted of six top-ten finishes, two hole-in ones and a Big Ten Golfer of the Week honor. Howe was the only Nittany Lion golfer to compete in all 25 rounds of the 2010 fall and 2011 spring campaign.
Woodward had a breakout season as he proved himself in the final tournament of the fall season, carding a two-round total of 139(70-69) and placing second for the Nittany Lions and tying for 11th overall. The sophomore standout went on to compete in all six of the spring season tournaments, posting consistent scores and coming in first for the Nittany Lions in the Big Ten Championships.
In his first season as a member of the Penn State men’s golf team, sophomore DeGol competed in eight tournaments and held a 75.4 round average, the third best for the team. Marin fell right ahead of DeGol, with a 75.3 round average, the second best for the Nittany Lions. Marin competed in nine of the tournaments throughout the year and improved his round average from his premier season in 2009-10. Senior McDonagh captured two top-ten finishes in the 10 tournaments he participated in during the season, posting a 74.8 round average.