Tim Peters saw an opportunity to improve his golf career and made a considerable jump. The readily available home cooking was merely a nice bonus.
Peters, a standout Western Pennsylvania amateur player from State College, transferred from NCAA Division II Millersville to Penn State this past fall, returning to play for his hometown team and to compete in the Big Ten.
“I’ve been here my whole life,” said Peters, a Saint Joseph’s Academy graduate. “My parents moved here in 1999, and I was born in 2005. I didn’t really dive into the Penn State, bleeding blue and white thing for a while there. But now that I’m here, I definitely am.”
The junior made an immediate impact at Millersville, a PSAC school located in Lancaster, Pa. He was a two-time All-Region honoree, the PSAC Athlete of the Year, PSAC Freshman of the Year, two-time first-team All-PSAC and the conference’s champion golfer.
He set single-season scoring records and collected four tournament victories during his sophomore season, as well.
“After my freshman year, I thought about transferring, but didn’t really pull the trigger on it,” he said. “After my sophomore year, I was like, alright, it’s time to do this and see where I can go. And then Penn State was the first school to reach out to me. They were the main reason I entered the portal. There was a chance to come home and play for Penn State.”
Penn State coach Mark Leon used he and the program’s community connections — even one with Peters’ second grade teacher — to learn more about their newest prospect.
“I immediately knew he was a wonderful kid,” said Leon, a Penn State grad who is in his third season leading the Nittany Lions. “He had done really well at Millersville and improved a lot over the last couple of years.
“There were just so many people in town that knew him and had good things to say about him. Every positive thing that everyone said about him, Tim has been that much and more since getting to Penn State.”
While it didn’t take much for Peters to feel at home at his new school, the realities of the jump from Division II to a premier conference like the Big Ten took some time for acclimation.
“It’s definitely been an adjustment,” Peters said. “The courses are longer, tougher. The conditions are tougher and pin placements are tougher. But, if you play good golf at summer tournaments, it’s going to prepare you for what’s out here.”
Peters, who turned 21 in March, competed in the WPGA Amateur Championship last July at Sunnehanna Country Club, shooting scores of 69 three straight rounds to place eighth overall. He also advanced in U.S. Open Qualifying, reaching the Final Qualifying Stage last spring, as well.
“If you look at the way he was playing in the summer coming in, we projected that he would do extremely well,” said Leon. “He had a great scoring average in his summer tournaments and had done very well in Division II golf.
“I think the thing that he’s got to not worry about is the golfers around him. It’s more about just playing your game. If he can just play his game, he’s fine. Anything about leveling up is just a storyline that he’s creating in his own mind. I think he’s moved away from that.”
That was evident in mid-April, when Peters was part of Penn State’s Rutherford Invitational championship winning team. On their home course, the Nittany Lions dominated as a team, winning the tournament by 11 strokes. Individually, Peters tied for sixth at 1-under, his first top ten finish since joining Penn State.
“Over the winter, we focused a lot on my wedges and iron control,” he said. “That’s the thing I’ve struggled with the most. Practicing with our TrackMan and targets, and doing stuff in the hitting bays, it’s definitely prepared me for this.
“I can definitely tell the different between hitting a 75-yard shot three years ago versus a 75-yard shot today. You’re trying to be a little more exact.”
Leon has seen that improvement and has seen a leader emerge as his play has come around.
“He’s understanding the things he does well,” said Leon. “And where things can go off the rails when they’re not going perfectly. He’s been able to address those things in himself, in his own game. He looks to be turning a corner and becoming a steadier player.
“And he’s just an awesome guy. He brings a lot of positivity and energy to our group every day.”
And for Peters, who has sights on a Big Ten Championship this coming weekend, the chance to make more memories and to win more titles for his hometown team is guiding his surging play.
“I’m glad that people can come out and support me,” he said. “I’ve been able to play well and help the team. It was great to finish out the season at home with my family and friends supporting me. It was awesome… I’m looking forward to what’s next.”
For any media inquiries, please contact WPGA Director of Communications Josh Rowntree.
