STATE COLLEGE, Pa.; December 20, 2001 -- Penn State men's golf coach Greg Nye has announced the signing of three highly-touted players who will enroll at the University next fall.

Marco Poccia, from Gansevoort, N.Y., will bring with him a long list of achievements to Happy Valley. He won the 2001 New York State High School Championship and will look to duplicate that feat in his senior season. He has also placed second in three American Golf Association events. Poccia, who attends Saratoga Springs High School, also finished 19th at the 2000 United States Golf Association Junior Championship.

"Marco comes to us with outstanding national results, and has a real chance of working his way into our lineup as a freshman," said Nye.

David Dankmyer, from Gibsonia, Pa., also has a lengthy list of accomplishments. He was the winner of the IIAJC Pennsylvania State Championship and qualified for the 2001 United States Golf Association Junior Amateur Championship. Dankmyer, from Pine-Richland High School, also was named the 2001 Western Pennsylvania Golf Association Player of the Year, which he won over "an excellent group of junior players in the Pittsburgh Area," Nye said.

Chris Brown, from Manchester, Mass., is Nittany Lions' third signee. Brown, who attends Woodbury Forest School in Virginia, won the 2000 New England Junior Match Play Championship and the 2001 PGA New England Junior Championship. The future Nittany Lion also placed fifth at the Westfield 2001 National PGA Junior.

"Chris had two top national finishes this summer, and with his solid fundamentals we think he has an excellent future," Nye stated.
Nye, who recently was named Distict II Coach of the Year for the fourth time (1993, '94, 2000, '01), will lead the Lions into their spring season at the Big Red Classic in Ocala, Fla. on March 9-10, 2002.