STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - The Penn State men's golf team will host the 26th Rutherford Intercollegiate this Saturday and Sunday, April 27-28. The Rutherford is traditionally one of the top NCAA District II events, annually hosting a top field of Eastern teams.

The Nittany Lions will entertain 14 other squads at the par 72 Penn State Blue Course, with the first and second rounds set for Saturday beginning at 7:30 a.m. The final round is slated for Sunday and will start at 8 a.m. There will be split-tees on holes one and ten for all three rounds of play.

This year's tournament promises to be one of the most exciting in recent memory, as six of the top ten ranked teams in District II will be competing, including the top three teams Penn State, Maryland and St. John's. Perennial District III power UNC-Wilmington and Western Kentucky from District IV will also be contenders for the team title. Dark horses for a top five finish include Ohio, George Mason and James Madison.

Adding to the heated competition, the Rutherford Intercollegiate also plays a major role in determining which teams will make the NCAA Regional from District II. With only four teams selected out of the district the outcome of the Rutherford will be a deciding factor on who makes the NCAA's.

The race for the individual championship should be as exciting as the team race. Andy Latowski is the defending champion and has been playing tremendous golf all spring. Corey Brigham of Maryland and Adam Gee of UNC-Wilmington have both won several tournaments, while Erik Herberth of Ohio is highly ranked in several publications and has four top five finishes. Craig Mason of George Mason, who was a top-ten placer last year, along with Jared Topmiller and Brandon Waldrop of Western Kentucky will also contend for the individual title.

In addition to the aforementioned golfers, do not count out Derek Brown of UNC-Wilmington or Josh Dawes and Jim Fuller of Penn State. Dawes is coming off a record-breaking performance at the Princeton Invitational and Fuller has three top ten finishes this spring.

The 2001 Rutherford Intercollegiate saw Penn State win its tenth straight title with a tournament record score of 863. James Madison placed second and Princeton University came in third. Andy Latowski won the individual title shooting a score of 212, which tied him for the second best 54-hole score in Rutherford history. Cassidy Traub of Princeton shot a 214 for second place.

In addition to tournament play, special services will be held to honor the late Michael Carter, a member of the Penn State men's golf team who died in an automobile accident this past February. On Friday, April 26 at 6:30 p.m. a tree will be dedicated near the 18th hole of the Blue Course to honor Carter. All are welcome and encouraged to attend the memorial planting. On Saturday an open tee-time will take place at 7:30 along with a moment of silence throughout the Penn State golf courses.

 2002 Rutherford Intercollegiate Penn State Blue Golf Course State College, Pa. Saturday, April 27, 7:30 a.m. (36 holes- 1st/10th tees) Sunday, April 28, 8 a.m. (18 holes- 1st/10th tees) 

PARTICIPATING TEAMS (15 total): Akron, George Mason, Georgetown, James Madison, Liberty, Maryland, Ohio, Penn State, Princeton, Richmond, Rutgers, Seton Hall, St. Johns, UNC-Wilmington and Western Kentucky.

 2001 Rutherford Intercollegiate Scores Final Team Scores: 1. Penn State 294-285-284- 863 2. James Madison 293-304-285- 882 3. Princeton University 304-303-281- 888 4. Western Kentucky 305-294-297- 896 Ohio University 300-298-298- 896 6. Navy 300-299-300- 899 7. Lehigh University 306-300-294- 900 George Mason 303-299-298- 900 9. Colgate 310-296-295- 901 10. Pennsylvania 303-296-303- 902 11. Youngstown State 306-298-302- 906 12. Liberty 308-302-298- 908 13. George Washington 307-304-304- 915 14. St. Bonaventure 306-308-307- 921 15. Cornell 309-320-303- 932 Top Individuals 1. Andy Latowski Penn State 73-68-71- 212 (-4) 2. Cassidy Traub, Princeton 74-74-66- 214 (-2) 3. John Scott Rattan, JMU 74-73-68- 215 (-1) Jeff Turton, Penn State 75-70-70- 215 (-1) 5. Tyler Duke, Ohio 74-71-71- 216 (E) 6. Eli Zackheim, Colgate 75-71-71- 217 (+1) Kyle Moran, Penn 72-72-73- 217 (+1) Mike Eglit, Lehigh 74-72-71- 217 (+1) Thomas Hieredal, Ohio 73-71-73- 217 (+1) Craig Mason, G. Mason 72-70-75- 217 (+1) 11. Michael Gooden, JMU 72-75-71- 218 (+2) Billy Hurley, Navy 71-75-72- 218 (+2) 13. Bowen Osborn, Lehigh 79-71-68- 219 (+3) Matt Abbott, Penn State 71-75-73- 219 (+3) Jonah Karzmer, Ystown St. 76-67-76- 219 (+3) Jim Fuller, Penn State 75-72-72- 219 (+3) --LIONS--