UNIVERSITY PARK — Penn State University announced on June 9 that former Nittany Lion standout Mark Leon was named the new head coach of the Penn State men’s golf team.
Leon, who graduated from Penn State in 2005 with a degree in history, comes to Penn State after spending the past two seasons as the head coach at Florida Atlantic. Prior to that he was an assistant at Florida from 2017 to 2021 and at Penn State from 2011 to 2017.
As a Nittany Lion, Leon had an outstanding career. He was named an All-American by the Golf Coaches Association of America, a GCAA All-Region golfer and an All-Big Ten selection. He led Penn State to the 2004 NCAA finals and finished in a tie for sixth as an individual, which is still a record finish for a Penn State golfer.
Leon subsequently spent four years on the Canadian Pro Tour and had two top-10 finishes, with a fourth-place finish in the 2008 Players Cup.
Leon served as an assistant under long-time PSU coach Greg Nye from 2011 to 2017 and helped the Lions reach the NCAA regionals four straight years.
“I want to thank Pat Kraft for giving me the opportunity of a lifetime, to be the men’s golf coach at Penn State University,” Leon said. “For the past 22 years, the Penn State program has been shaping my life. My teammates are still my best friends, my girlfriend Jaime (Stitch) became my wife, and we have two beautiful children, Cameron and AJ.
“Athletically, Penn State gave me an opportunity to grow and compete at the highest levels of amateur golf, and ultimately enter the profession of coaching.
“Coming to Penn State in 2001 was the best decision I ever made, and having the chance to be named the head coach 22 years later is truly the greatest honor of my life.”
Leon, who will be assisted by Nick Ziccardi, will get right to work preparing for the next golf season, which will begin in September 2023.
Philipsburg Elks Country Club
It’s been a busy two weeks at the Elks Club with the Pennsylvania State Police Outing on June 5, the Women’s WGACP Tournament on June 6 and the Elks Invitational Tournament on June 10.
The Invitational, with a two-player, net and gross, best-ball format, was played in beautiful weather on June 10 and there was a great turnout for the competition.
The results of the best-ball event were as follows:
Gross Division:
First place — Patrick Miller and Terry Burd, Park Hills CC, 63 (-7)
Second place — (tie) Brett Weibley and Todd Homan, Park Hills, and Nate Lucas and Robert Mitchell, Elks CC, 66 (-4)
Net Division:
First place — (tie) Brent Becker and Dave Morelli, Elks CC, and Todd Reifer and Zach Reifer, Elks CC, 57 (-13)
Third place — Johnny Harpster and Oliver Harpster, Elks CC, 58 (-12)
There were also six net skins winners, five gross skins, three closest to the pin winners and a long-drive winner.
In Men’s League play, Jones Insurance is in first place after the sixth week of play with 34.5 points and it is followed by the JJ Powell team with 26 points. Lee is in third place with 23.5.
Upcoming events:
June 22 — The Kiwanis International Tournament
June 24-25 — The Elks Memorial Tournament
June 29 — First Junior Golf Clinic (Putting/Chipping)
June 30 — Osceola Open Tournament
Skytop Mountain Golf
Upcoming Events:
June 16 — Parent/Child Scramble. Nine-hole, two-person scramble beginning at 5 p.m. with prizes.
Toftrees Country Club
Upcoming Events:
July 10-14 — Toftrees Summer Golf Camp. Introductory instructional program for juniors ages 9-14. Fun program with games while learning the basic skills of golf.
Nittany Country Club
Upcoming Events:
June 16 — Krislund Tournament
June 17 — The Dobson Tip-Off
June 20 — Women’s Counties at Centre Hills
