AIKEN, S.C., March 13, 2007 ¨C Freshman Kevin Foley (Somerville, N.J.) shot back-to-back rounds of 72 to open the spring golf season and stands tied for eighth at 4-over par 144 after the first two rounds of the 10th Cleveland Golf Palmetto Invitational in Aiken, S.C.

Foley¡¯s performance helped Penn State to ninth in the team race with two rounds of 297 and a 36-hole total of 34-over par 594. Virginia Tech sits atop the leaderboard at 13-over-par (573) through 36 holes. The Hokies carded rounds of 286 and 287. Host USC Aiken, two-time defending champs of the event, are in second at 21-over-par (581) following a tournament-low 282 in round two.

The 54-hole event is being contested at the 6,565-yard, par-70 Palmetto Golf Club. Founded in 1892, Palmetto is recognized as the fourth oldest golf course in the United States and holds the oldest membership certificate to the USGA still in existence.

Foley is leading the tournament in par 3 and par 5 scoring. He is 1-under par with an average of 2.88 on the par 3¡¯s and 4-under par with an average of 4.00 on the par 5¡¯s.

Other scorers for Penn State included junior Robert Rohanna (Waynesboro, Pa.) who posted two rounds of 76 and stands tied for 46th with a score of 152. Junior Harvin Groft (State College, Pa.) posted rounds of 81 and 72 and is tied for 50th at 153. Senior Marco Poccia (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) posted two rounds of 77 and is tied for 56th at 154 and freshman Jim Markovitz (Bridgeville, Pa.) shot 72 and 84 to stand tied for 65th at 156.

Action will conclude on Tuesday.