SCHUYLKILL HAVEN, Pa. — Penn State Schuylkill made program history on Monday, Oct. 5, capturing the 2026 Penn State University Athletic Conference (PSUAC) Golf Championship for the first time.

The Lions overcame a three-stroke deficit after Sunday’s opening round to finish with a two-day score of 628. Schuylkill shot 311 at the PSUAC Blue Course Sunday and 317 at the PSUAC White Course Monday to claim the championship.

The championship came just six days after Schuylkill earned the first team victory in program history at Penn State Hazleton.

“We went from winning the first match in our programs history to winning the PSUAC Championship all within the span of a week, it almost doesn’t feel real,” Hayden Lee said.

Cole Yelinek and Lee led Schuylkill in Monday’s final round with matching scores of 77. Yelinek followed a team-leading 74 in the opening round with a 77 to finish fourth individually at 151 and earn All-Conference honors.

Jude Maziekas also earned All-Conference honors after finishing with a two-day score of 158. Hogan Troutman shot consecutive rounds of 81 to finish at 162, while Lee finished at 161. Rylen Matlock finished at 170 and Blake Deiter at 184.

For Lee, Monday’s 77 was seven strokes better than his opening-round score and the best score of his collegiate career.

“This weekend was one of the greatest experiences of my life, finishing 4th and then winning a PSUAC Team Championship, was my most important goal during my collegiate career. Being able to bounce back and put up a 74 and a 77 was amazing and I was really glad to help the team,” Yelinek said.

The team did not know it had won until the awards ceremony.

“One of the best sports moments of my life. Looking at how much that meant to everybody on the team was the best moment. We had no idea that we won until the they were announcing awards me and Hogan were sitting there trying to do math we thought we figured it out but never can be sure,” Maziekas said.

A historic season

The championship capped a milestone season for coach JD Powis, who has led the Penn State Schuylkill golf program for 21 years.

“Through my years of coaching golf at Penn State Schuylkill, I haven’t had “success” in the traditional sense of the word. That is until very recently. My first win as a coach took place after 21 years of coaching. Yet somehow, it’s been rewarding just the same,” Powis said.

Powis was named PSUAC Coach of the Year following the championship.

“I also want to congratulate my coach for being recognized as the Coach of the Year. Our coach has led by example and has been an amazing role model these past two years for me and I can’t thank him enough for making all of this possible for my friends and I,” Lee said.

The team also received the John Fritz Sportsmanship Award, presented to Matlock.

For Powis, the championship represents not only the accomplishments of this year’s team but also the players who helped build the program over the past two decades.

“So, I want to thank this year’s team, as well as my former players, for helping to contribute to the success we enjoyed this season. The 2026 PSUAC Championship was won by the Penn State Schuylkill Golf Team, but it can be celebrated by all of us,” Powis said.

The historic season gives the Lions momentum heading into nationals.

“It was a great day for our team, and hopefully we can carry this momentum into nationals,” Troutman said.