MOON TWP — Ryan Prokay saved his best for first — and last.

The Grove City High School graduate and Robert Morris University senior golfer carded a school record-tying 65 in the first round of the Leo Keenan Invitational at Bartlett Country Club in Olean, N.Y.

He followed that up the next day by sinking a 38-foot chip for eagle on the 18th hole Monday to secure medalist honors for the event.

“I told Ryan it's tough to follow up a 65 with another 65,” RMU golf coach Jerry Stone said. “When you've got the lead after the first day of a two-day event, you have a big ole' circle on your back. Everyone's coming at you.”

Prokay said he felt focused going into the second day because of the scores that came in behind him during the tournament's first day.

“The course played a little rough that first day, so I figured I'd have a two or three-stroke lead,” he admitted. “Then I saw a 66 come in, then somebody tied me with a 65.

“That actually helped me Monday. Instead of playing a conservative round, I knew I had to go for it.”

Still, Prokay fell behind LIU Brooklyn's Stewart Gray by a couple of shots with three holes to play.

Only he thought he was three strokes down.

“No.'s 16, 17 and 18 are all short par-4's and I knew I could birdie them because I've done it before,” Prokay said. “I felt like I still had a shot.

“Then I miss a birdie putt on 16, lipped out a birdie putt on 17 ... I figured I was playing for second place on 18.”

Gray nearly lost his ball teeing off on No. 18 while Prokay nailed a 300-yard drive that landed in the fairway, 38 feet from the hole.

Prokay's chip shot bounced on the green, rolled toward the hole, hit the flag and went in.

“It was an uphill, so I didn't actually see it go in,” Prokay said. “But I heard my parents and coach react. I gave it a fist pump and figured that was a good way to sew up second place.”

But when Gray failed to get his shot up and down on his subsequent shots, Prokay discovered sudden victory.

“When I saw that, I thought we were in a playoff,” Prokay said. “We turned the card in and I learned I had been only two strikes down, not three. I don't know why I thought three.”

Prokay's 36-hole total of 137 and 3-under-par both set Robert Morris records. The Colonials won the team event for the second straight year and third time in four years.

RMU's team score of 5-over-par 565 broke the team record by six strokes. Its rounds of 281 and 284 marked the top two team 18-hole rounds in school history.

Prokay won his second collegiate tournament in his last three tries. The Keenan Invitational opened the fall season and he won a tourney at Sunnehanna last May.

“He's gotten bigger and stronger,” Stone said. “Ryan's probably put on 50 pounds. When he first got here, he looked like he weighed 30 pounds soaking wet.”

Prokay has Tourette's Syndrome, a neurological disorder that can cause repeated physical tics.

“I was hitting myself so hard that I broke a couple of ribs,” Prokay said. “I played my freshman and sophomore years with broken ribs.

“I had to get some help, so I went to the neurology department at UPMC and got some light medication. Now I'm twitch-free. It's helped me in my social life and on the golf course.”

Prokay is a sports management major who hopes to become director of a youth or adult recreation program at a YMCA — if he's not out on the pro tour.

“That's a dream I still have,” he admitted of turning pro. “When I see myself playing like I did the other day ... I missed a couple of birdie putts or I would have shot 63 on a difficult course ... I feel like I can play with anybody.

“I've been playing golf competitively since I was 14. Now I'm 22 and it's still all I want to do.”

After spending recent winters away from golf, Prokay spent last winter in the golf dome at Neville Island, spending two or three hours per day, five or six days a week, working on his stroke.

The extra effort paid off.

“His game has just taken off. He's at another level now,” Stone said. “Ryan is a proud kid and he ought to be.”

His immediate goal is to help Robert Morris win a North East Conference championship.

“We've got a lot of good golfers here,” Prokay said. “I feel like we should be able to get that done.”