Harrison excited to see the golf team's growth
Third-year Penn State Fayette golf coach Freddie Harrison is excited for the 2023 season, and he feels there will be growth in the program.
"I am excited for this upcoming season," he said. "I believe this is the best chance we have had since I arrived to produce some team wins. We placed in the top three a couple times last year as a team, but we struggled with consistency throughout our roster. This year we should be solid throughout the whole lineup."
Harrison is excited to see how experience will help Dylan Pawlak (Acme, PA/Mt. Pleasant HS), Nate Moody (Uniontown, PA/Uniontown HS) and Chase Malanosky (Fredricktown, PA/Beth-Center). The trio has plenty of Pennsylvania State University Athletic Conference (PSUAC) and United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) experience.
"Dylan finished fourth in the PSUAC (and USCAA) national championships last year and has continued to get better as a player," Harrison said. "If his mental game stays sharp, I'm expecting a top three finish or better, for sure, out of him. Nate Moody will be returning for his 4th season this year. He has continued to become a better player in all facets of his game. If Nate is hitting his drives straight, he will be in contention, no doubt. I'm expecting Chase to be a solid player this year. This is his second year and I think he is going to perform how he is capable of performing."
Harrison has three new golfers on the team in Nicholas Summers (Charleroi, PA/Charleroi High School), and Tyler Duda (Brownsville, PA/Brownsville High School), and he said Summers is opening some eyes.
"The season is just getting underway, but Nicholas Summers could make an impact immediately," Harrison said. "He hits it long and rolls the ball beautifully. As a golfer that is what you want to have in your bag. Tyler is a gifted athlete that only recently started playing golf, but he is like a sponge soaking up all the game has to offer him. If you watch him hit a golf ball, you would never know he is new to the game."
Harrison spoke about his goals for the season.
"I would like to finish in the top three, team-wise, in every event," he said. I would also love to have at least two players in the top-five at the national championships. Lastly, I want us to continue to improve as players and young adults."
When asked about what it would take to have a successful season, Harrison didn't hesitate to answer.
"We will have a successful season if the team grows both on and off the course," he said. "Obviously, winning is important as well. My goal for these student-athletes is to always be learning, and, both in this game of golf and in life, you can never learn too much."
The team opens the season September 7 at the PSU White (course) Invitational on the main campus of Penn State University.
For more on the golf team, go to https://www.psfathletics.com/sports/golf/index.
By: Bill Hughes