The Potomac State College golf team had accomplished about everything they could this season including many first in school history. The 3rd straight Western Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference (WPCC) crown started off the fall season on the right foot, and then the first ever PCAA state championship rounded out the fall schedule. In the Spring, the team started the season with a win at the Fairmont State Invitational, the first ever NCAA DII victory in school history, then came what they had worked all season for, the Region XX Championship. This tournament was the sole qualifier to the NJCAA DII National Tournament in Phoenix, Arizona, and the season long goal for the Catamount squad. On Tuesday afternoon, the Catamount golf team sealed up this victory in dominating fashion and claimed the third Region XX Golf Championship in school history.
The 36 hole event started on Monday morning at Beaver Creek Country Club in Hagerstown, MD. The Catamounts stumbled out of the blocks early and posted an unimpressive 317 on the tough course. This score was led by eventual medalist Brendan Dillon with a 1 over par 73. Following Brendan was Brian Affleck with a 79 and rounding out the first day scoring was Matt Pellillo at 82 and David Lang at 83. The 317 was the second highest score of the year for the Catamounts, but placed them in a tie with Harford County Community College who was led by Matt Dixon who was just 2 shots off the individual lead at 75. Individually, Caleb Hudlow of Hagerstown Community College also posted 75 and was tied for second place.
On day two the Catamounts came out with a vengeance and posted the second best score of the year and watched as Harford faded into the background of a dominating performance. On the day the Catamounts posted a 303 and won going away by 39 shots. The second day was again led by a solid 73 from Dillon. Lang and Affleck also had great bounce back performances with 75 and 76 respectively. Finishing out the scoring was Jeremy Thompson with a 79. Harford posted a 342 on day two and had leading rounds from Matt Dixon who posted 78 for a second place finish, and Chris Appell with an 80.
Brendan followed up the team honors and laid claim to medalist for the event while Affleck and Lang joined him on the all Region XX team. Overall the Catamounts placed 3 guys in the top 4, and placed all five in the top 10.
“The team had something to prove on day two, and they did,” said coach Aaron Edwards. “We didn’t play up to our potential on the first day and really put ourselves in a spot where we had a lot of work to do on day two, but overall we bounced back and showed everyone why we were the favorites to win the event.”
Overall the Catamounts will represent Region XX at the NJCAA DII National tournament with the team of Brendan Dillon, Brian Affleck, David Lang, Jeremy Thompson and Matt Pellillo. Region XX will also be represented by individual qualifiers Matt Dixon and Chris Appell from Harford, Caleb Hudlow from Hagerstown, and Ian Cuddahee and Bryant Khoo from Frederick.
The Catamounts finished the season with a spring NJCAA record of 21-1 and overall season record of 86-1. “The Region XX Championship was won by 5 golfers said Edwards, but this was a total team effort and all 8 of our team members can lay claim to the great season we have had.”


