News & Highlights

Lehigh Carbon/Mike Englert Strike State GOLD  (10-11-11)

The Lehigh Carbon Community College (LCCC) Cougar Golf team completed a perfect season this afternoon at the Penn National Resort in Fayetteville PA.  The Cougars fired a second day team total of 217, a single day record, to go along with their first round 226 to claim the first PCAA State Golf Championship in school history with a record winning total of 443.  The winning total surpasses the previous record of 447 set back in 2007 by the Potomac State Catamounts.  By winning the ten team state tournament, LCCC finishes the fall 2011 season with a perfect 44-0 record.  In defeating Potomac State, LCCC ends a four year run by the Catamounts at the Pennsylvania Collegiate Athletic Association (PCAA) Tournament.  Potomac State is currently ranked tenth in the nation in the NJCAA Div. II coach’s poll.

The Cougars were again led by Mike Englert who sizzled his way around the Iron Forge course with a single day tournament record 4 under par 68 giving him a two day total of even par 144 and thus securing his second PCAA Individual crown in two years.  Not to be lost in Englert's gem, was the even par round of 72 turned in by last year’s PCAA runner-up, Ryan Kline (150).  Phil Rothermel (149), the first round leader, had a solid round through 16 holes, but played the final two holes in three over par to slip to a 77 on the day.  All three players finished in the top ten of the 48 player field to earn All State Honors.  LCCC's other two players in the field, freshmen Will Gruppo and Tyler Kunsman, both finished with a respectable 162 total.

Team Results:                        Lehigh Individual Results:

Lehigh Carbon  443                   Mike Englert       76-68-144

Potomac State  454                   Phil Rothermel   72-77-149

Westmoreland  459                   Ryan Kline          78-72-150

Northampton    476                   Will Gruppo         84-78-162

Bucks                 477                   Tyler Kunsman   80-82-162

CCAC North      482

Harrisburg         482

Butler                  490

Delaware           492

CCAC South      500

Cougar Golfers Claw Their Way To First Round Lead  (10-10-11)

The Lehigh Carbon Community College golf team continued with its successful season this afternoon by taking a 4 shot lead in the Pennsylvania Collegiate Athletic Association (PCAA) State Tournament.  The two day event is being held for the 9^th season at Penn National Resort in Fayetteville PA.  Round one was contested on the shorter but very tight Founders course par 72.  Tomorrow they will conclude on the longer links style Iron Forge course also par 72.

The challenge to hold the lead will be very strong as they look to dethrone the four time defending champion Potomac State Catamounts.  The Cougars managed to hang on despite some inconsistent play on the final few holes to post their tournament leading 226 score.  The Catamounts were second at 230, followed closely by Westmoreland at 233.  Rounding out the ten team field were: Harrisburg (240), Bucks (241), Northampton (242), Butler (243), CCAC North (244), CCAC South (250), and Delaware (252).

The Cougars were led by freshman, Phil Rothermel who fired a tournament low round of even par 72.  Rothermel needed four birdies to offset some inconsistent play but still managed to scramble his way atop the leader board.  Last year’s PCAA champion and runner up, Mike Englert and Ryan Kline, supported Rothermel with 76 and 78 respectively.  Englert was the steadiest player but failed to hole several makeable putts.  Kline, on the other hand, limped in making bogie on four of his final five holes.  The other two LCCC players in the field are Tyler Kunsman (80) and Will Gruppo (84).

Ryan MacPherson lead the Catamounts attack with 75 as all six of their players scored in the 70’s. MacPherson’s 75 was good enough for second on the day while Englert and Chris Cline of Westmoreland were third with 76.

Englert and Kline Lead Cougars to EPCC Conference Championship  (10-3-11)

With temperatures in the low 50's and with on and off showers throughout the day Mike Englert and Ryan Kline pulled a repeat performance of last year’s PCAA State Tournament by finishing medalist and runner up at the EPCC Conference Championship this afternoon.  Both players played the Golden Oaks C.C. course in one under par 71.  Englert, however, made a 4 foot birdie putt on the second playoff hole to earn medalist honors. 

Englert made six birdies, including his final three holes, in his round but 3-putted four times or he could have broken the tournament record of 69 shot by Sean Flaherty of Bucks C.C.C. in 2007.  Kline, on the other hand, played steady all day making two birdies with just one lone bogie on the 17^th hole.

Will Gruppo (79) and Phil Rothermel (83) rounded out the Cougar attack as their 304 team total bested second place Northampton (323) by 19 shots.  Harrisburg (334) finished third while Bucks and Delaware tied for fourth with a 336 total.  With the victory, LCCC secured their first EPCC Conference Championship since 2008.

The Cougars will now head to Penn National Resort in Fayetteville, PA later this weekend for next week’s PCAA State Tournament.  Qualifying for the state event are Englert, Kline, Rothermel, Guppo and Tyler Kunsman.  Also, Shane Becker will be making the trip as an alternate.

Cougars Claim 3rd League Title In Four Years  (9-30-11)

 Phil Rothermel continued his consistent play to lead the Cougars to their 3rd EPCC league title in the past four seasons today as LCCC captured its home Invitational at Olde Homestead Golf Course in New Tripoli PA.  Rothermel's 76 led the Cougar attack followed by Mike Englert (77), Ryan Kline (80) and Tyler Kunsman (86).  Richie Eilenberger of Northampton was medalist with an even par round of 72.  Lehigh's Rothermel, Englert, and Kline rounded out the top 4 spots on the day.  With their 6th straight invitational victory, LCCC finishes the regular season undefeated with a record of 30-0.

Next up, the Cougar's travel to Golden Oaks Country Club in Fleetwood PA this coming Monday for the EPCC Conference Championship.  LCCC is primed to qualify at least five players for the PCAA State Championship the following week.  With the top 26 players earning spots for the state tournament, the Cougar's currently have five players in the top ten of the EPCC individual standings.

Rothermel & Kunsman Prove To Be Tough Mudders  (9-28-11) 

A pair of freshman provided the leadership this afternoon at the Delaware Invitational held at a rain soaked Macoby Run Golf Course in Green Lane PA.  Three inches of overnight rain made for very wet conditions, but Phil Rothermel and Tyler Kunsman each fired 3 over par 75's and sophomores Mike Englert and Ryan Kline each came in a shot higher with 76's to give the Cougar's their 5th straight Invitational victory.  Steve Kluemper of Northampton was medalist with a 73 which paced the Spartan's (314) to a second place finish 12 shots behind Lehigh Carbon's 302 total.  Delaware (328) and Bucks (333) rounded out the top four places.

With his 75, Kunsman shot his low round of the year, while Rothermel continued his solid play as he has been in the 70's every match this season.  Kunsman used a hot putter, along with his steady ball striking to post 14 pars.  For Rothermel, it marked the fifth time in as many matches that he has finished in the top 3 out of the 36 player field.

The Cougar's will conclude the regular season this Friday as they host the Lehigh Invitational at Olde Homestead Golf Course in New Tripoli PA.  The post season EPCC Conference Tournament will then be held at Golden Oaks C.C. next Monday followed by the PCAA State Tournament at Penn National Resort the following Monday and Tuesday.

Kline Leads Cougar’s To Victory  (9-21-11) 

Cougar sophomore, Ryan Kline, shot his season low round of 74 to lead the unbeaten Cougar’s to their 4^th straight victory today at Five Ponds Golf Course in Warminster PA.  Kline’s 3 over par total was good enough to earn medalist honors by two shots over Philip Moore (76) from Delaware C.C.  Lehigh’s Phil Rothermel and Northampton’s Richie Eilenberger each shot 78 to tie for the third spot.  LCCC has now had the Tournament Medalist in each of its four matches this season and has improved its record to 20-0. 

Kline got off to a slow start as he found himself 3 over par after 7 holes, but played even par the rest of the way.  Will Gruppo turned in a solid round of 80 to help the Cougars (315) gain a 21 shot victory over second place Delaware (336) while Bucks C.C. was third with a 339 total.

LCCC will next see action next Wednesday at the Delaware Invitational to be held for the first time at Macoby Run in Green Lane PA.   

One Shot Victory Moves Cougars To 15-0  (9-15-11)

The LCCC Golf team battled rain, wind and temperatures in the low 50's to defeat Northampton by a single shot this afternoon at the Luzerne Invitational which was a make up from last week’s tropical storm Lee rain out.  The win was their third straight victory in as many matches this year.  With this victory, LCCC moves to     15-0 on the year.

 Also, for the third straight match, Mike Englert earned medalist honors with his 2 over par 74.  Englert’s      birdie-birdie finish was good enough to edge out Northampton’s Rich Eilenberger (75) for the top spot.  LCCC’s Phil Rothermel survived a triple bogie 7 on is first hole of the day and came in with a four over par 76 which secured his third place finish.  As good as these two were it was the ability of Ryan Kline (82) and Will Gruppo (87), to stay focused and post rounds that were just enough to secure the one shot victory at the end of the day.

LCCC now has a 29 shot lead over Northampton in the season long Eastern PA Collegiate Conference (EPCC) regular season standings.  Their next match is Wednesday September 21^st when the Cougar’s travel to Warminster PA and the Bucks CC Invitational.

Cougar Golfer's Win Second Straight Match  (9-13-11)

 The Lehigh Carbon Community College golf team won it's second straight match this afternoon winning    the Harrisburg Invitational held at The Links at Hershey par 72 course.  The Cougar's 309 were ten shots better than the second place team from Northampton CC.  Delaware CC was third with a 333 total.   

For the second time in as many matches this season, Mike Englert earned medalist honors with a two over par round of 74.  Runner up honors went to Stephen Kluemper from Northampton with a 76.  Part of a four way tie for third were Cougar players Phil Rothermel and Ryan Kline who each shot rounds of 78.  Rounding out LCCC's scoring was Will Gruppo with a 79.

The Cougar's are in action again this Thursday as they head north to the Hazleton area for the Luzerne Invitational at Sand Spring Country Club.

LCCC Wins First Match  (9-2-11)

The Cougar golf team opened up the 2011 season in fine fashion this past Friday winning the Northampton Invitational held at Green Pond Country Club.  Lehigh Carbon's 307 total was 16 shots better than the Centurions of Bucks CCC and the Harrisburg ACC Hawks who each shot 323.  Not far behind in fourth place were the Spartan's of Northampton CC with a 325. 

Sophomore and last year's PCAA State Champion, Mike Englert led the way in scoring for the Cougar's firing a 72.  Englert's one over par total was also good enough to earn medalist honors for the afternoon.  Meanwhile, freshman, Phil Rothermel used a birdie-birdie start to cruise to a 2 over 73.  Other Cougar's who figured in the scoring were Will Gruppo-79 and Ryan Kline and Tyler Kunsman who each shot 83.

Next up, the Cougar's travel to Wilkes-Barre Municipal this coming Thursday for the Luzerne Invitational.

 Cougar's End Season as Runner-Up at PCAA Championships  (10-12-10)

The Lehigh Carbon Community College golf team completed one of its best seasons ever this past week finishing 2^nd at the PCAA State Tournament held at the Penn National Resort in Fayetteville PA.  The Cougar’s 458 were just three shots shy of the winning mark of 455 set by the Catamount’s of Potomac State.  Northampton CC (490) was third out of the eight team field.  In all, there were 14 schools represented with six schools sending players who were only eligible for individual honors.  It is the Cougar’s second runner up finish in the past three years at the PCAA Tournament.

On the individual side of the tournament, the Cougar’s Mike Englert and Ryan Kline finished 1^st and 2^nd respectively out of a 49 player field.  Englert fired rounds of 74-74 148 while Kline, the first round leader, did some firing of his own shooting rounds of 73-78 151.  Kline tied for runner up honors but was declared the official runner up by winning a one hole playoff where he made birdie while Mitch O’Shell of Potomac State made par.  Englert’s victory is the first ever by an LCCC golfer at the state tournament.  This caps off an extraordinary season as he was the medalist in three of the six regular season matches carrying a 74.25 average.  His regular season was highlighted by his EPCC record tying round of 6 under par 66 at Wilkes-Barre Municipal.

Englert and Kline were also joined by Nick Engelman in earning All State Honors by finishing in the top ten at the state tournament.  Engelman put together rounds of 81-79 160 to secure the final All State spot.  All three golfers are freshmen and will return next season to try to capture the team championship. 

Cougar's Off and Running to 15-0 Start  (9-10-10)

The 2010 golf season is off to a great start mirroring that of the 2008 season in which the Cougars went 30-0 in the EPCC and 38-1 for the season.  So far this season the Cougar’s have placed first in all three matches and have jumped out to a 15-0 record.  Their most recent victory was this past Friday in which the team tallied a 321 total to edge out second place Northampton by 7 shots.  The victory was anchored by the EPCC record tying round of 6 under par 66 fired by Freshman Mike Engert.  Englert was a standout golfer on the Palmerton High School team, shooting rounds in the 60’s numerous times.  Other players who have contributed to the early success include freshman Ryan Kline- Kutztown, Nick Engelman-Emmaus, and sophomores Greg Sheeler-Tamaqua and Justin Bedford-Schuylkill Haven.  Rounding out the roster are Bill Lippincott- Pennridge, Chris Walker-Parkland, and Shane Becker-Parkland.