April 5, 2008

2008 Marshall Invitational - FINAL RESULTS

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. - Penn State's Robert Rohanna claimed his second straight Marshall Invitational and tied the 36-hole scoring record in the process while Big Ten rival Illinois won the team title at the 39th annual Marshall Invitational at the par-71, 6,476-yard Guyan Golf and Country Club on Saturday.

The 17-team tournament, originally scheduled for 54 holes, was shortened to 36 holes on Saturday after Friday's action was cancelled due to rainy conditions.

Rohanna is the second golfer in history to win back-to-back Marshall Invitational titles, joining Ohio State's Paul Davis (1974-75). The Nittany Lion senior also became the sixth golfer to complete 36 holes with a score of 136 (-6), a tournament record. He followed his opening round 70 with a 5-under 66 to win the event by two strokes over three golfers that finished with a 138 - Illinois' Scott Langley and Mark Ogren and Marquette's Kelly Kretz.

The Fighting Illini (554) won their third Marshall Invitational, and first since 2003, by seven strokes over Penn State (561). Illinois shattered the first-round record with a 10-under 274. The previous low first round was 281, done four times, including by Penn State in Saturday's opening 18 holes.

Rhode Island's Brad Valois tied the individual tournament record with a 6-under 65 in round one. Valois enjoyed a bogey-free round and became the fifth golfer in the tournament's 39-year history to card a 65 in any single round of the event.

The host Thundering Herd finished in 17th place. Marshall's No. 1 player, sophomore Christian Brand, withdrew after the first round due to injury.

The Herd got a spark from sophomore Josh Boswell, who paced Marshall by finishing in a four-way tie for fifth place with a 140 (68-72). Boswell, however, played as an individual and therefore his score did not count toward MU's team total. His 3-under 68 to open the tournament was his best single-round score of his career.

Ohio State (565) placed third while 2007 runner-up Marquette (575) finished in fourth place.

The Herd will play conclude the 2007-08 regular season with the Kepler Intercollegiate, hosted by Ohio State, on April 12-13 in advance of the Conference USA Championship.

Marshall (36-hole total): 598 (292-306)

Marshall Team Score (36-hole total): *Josh Boswell 140 (68-72), Nathan Kinker 148 (72-76), Trent Schambach 150 (72-78), Jonathan Pepe 150 (76-74), *Phil DiLorenzo 151 (77-74), Bennett Boyer 152 (74-78), *Chris Tipper 156 (76-80), *Andy Foster 165 (84-81), Christian Brand (74-WD)
*played as an individual