MIDDLETOWN, Pa. – Penn State Harrisburg's golf team finished up its historic 2011-2012 season by taking part in the NCAA's Division III Championship Tournament in Howey-in-the-Hills, FL on Tuesday, May 15 and Wednesday, May 16.  The Lions, led by North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) Player of the Year Matt Plummer (Mechanicsburg, PA/Cumberland Valley) and two-time Coach of the Year Brad Kane, earned their trip to the Sunshine State when they won their second-straight league championship a few weeks back.

As a team, the blue and white shot an opening round 331.  Freshman CJ Foust (Palmyra, PA/Palmyra) was the team's first-day low-man with a 79.  A pair of Cumberland Valley grads in Plummer and senior Max Hrip (Mechanicsburg, PA/Cumberland Valley) followed closely behind the Palmyra native as each shot an 80.  Brothers Ryan (Pottstown, PA/Boyertown) and Steve Foell (Pottstown, PA/Boyertown) also recorded identical scores when each posted a 92.

Penn State Harrisburg totaled a score of 340 in the second round, giving the Lions a combined score of 671, good enough for a 40th place team finish.  Hrip, the blue and white's elder statesman, was strong during his last day on the links as a member of the blue and white and shot an 83.  His two-day total of 163 ranked him 154th overall; the team's highest finisher.  Foust's second-day 85 gave him a 164 two-day total while Plummer finished with a championship total of 168.  Ryan Foell had a great second day and shot eight-under his first-day score to finish with a 176 while Steve was consistent, shooting his second 92 of the tourney.

The outing was Penn State Harrisburg's second-straight NCAA tournament appearance and the Lions should be in fine shape to make it three in a row in 2013.  Hrip is the only golfer the team loses next year.  With the nucleus of this season's title-winning group returning in the fall, the Lions will look to Plummer and Foust to lead them to a third consecutive conference crown next spring.