Since its founding in 2012, the Pittsburgh college golf club team has grown both in strength and in numbers. After finishing almost last in their first appearance in an NCCGA event, the team quickly bounced back. President Matthew Pulleo says that players quickly sharpened their game and bonded as a team, making it to Nationals every semester ever since and “having a lot of fun in the process.” Each season, the team has fought injuries, cold weather, and limited funding but “always fights through to ensure its success.”

As defending Atlantic region champions for the past five semesters, Pulleo says the team knows they always have a target on their backs. Still, he praises the region on getting stronger, and having to improve each season in order to stay on top.

When asked how the team achieved its success over the seasons, Pulleo says that the team “stayed focused, some young players stepped up, and we did what it took to earn a bid to Nationals.”

The team finished second in both Atlantic Regional tournaments this semester, which was good enough to clinch the automatic bid over West Virginia via stroke differential.

Headed into Nationals, the team is looking forward to playing a PGA Tour caliber course, meeting players from across the country and of course “enjoying some legendary Texas BBQ.”

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Unfortunately, Pulleo says that some of the team’s best players will be unable to attend. “We’ll feel very accomplished with a finish in the top half of the field,” he added. Pitt knows that there are a lot of great players in the field. “Teams at the top, such as Florida, Baylor and Texas, always have targets on their back,” Pulleo commented, “beating them would require an impressive performance.”

We’re eager to see how the Panthers will stand faced with such a competitive college golf field this season at Nationals!

**Olivia de Fouchier is the NCCGA's Director of Women's Golf. Contact her on Twitter @NCCGA.