David and Ronald DeNunzio try to help each other more than push each other on the golf course.

When they work in tandem, they can be tough to beat. But given the individual nature of golf, the occasions where they can work together are few.

Turns out they're tough to beat separately, too.

The DeNunzios twins, 2004 graduates of Greensburg Central Catholic, are coming off strong junior seasons with the golf team at Rollins College in Winter Haven, Fla.

These Jeannette residents played Rollins' full match schedule for the first time in their junior seasons and figure to enter next season as the team's Nos. 1 and 2 players.

They recently competed in the West Penn Amateur golf championship at Sunnehanna Country Club in Johnstown and both played well. David finished sixth and Ronald in a tie for 17th place in the two-day, 54-hole event.

"The greens were the toughest part of the course," Ronald DeNunzio said. "I got a couple bad breaks and shot 77 [7-over par] the first round but came back with a 69 in the second round and finished with a 74.

"I had a couple bad bogeys in there but overall I thought I played pretty well."

That performance continued a summer of strong play for Ronald, who finished second in the Tri-State Amateur championship a few weeks ago, shooting a 69 at Tom's Run.

"I've been playing well, pretty consistently," he said. "I'm hitting a lot of fairways and greens. I'd like to make a few more birdies but I have been pretty consistent as far as hitting the fairways and greens."

David DeNunzio had a little better luck at the West Penn Amateur.

"I thought I played pretty well there," he said.

"My score could have been lower. On the first round, I was 1-under through nine, then double-bogeyed 10 and came back with a birdie on 11.

"I didn't play as well the second day but I was minus-2 on the back nine, so I was pretty happy with that. I feel like I could have putted a lot better than I did."

The brothers said their performances at the West Penn Amateur buoyed their confidence for the rest of the summer.

They plan to play in the Pennsylvania State Amateur, a U.S. Amateur qualifier and the West Penn Open in weeks to come and said the way they played at the West Penn Amateur shows they can be in contention most of the time.

"You definitely feel good when you come out of a tournament like that playing well," David DeNunzio said. "You get on a pretty good roll, get some confidence going and feel like you can attack the course. That's a pretty good feeling to have."

Both entered the season confident off their performances at Rollins. One of their teammates, Jeff Golden, qualified to play in the U.S. Open at Oakmont in mid-June and stayed at their home in Jeannette during his time here.

"I think that shows the level of player at our school," Ronald DeNunzio said. "The competition is real good. [Golden] is a great player. That's the kind of people you want to compete against."

The DeNunzios played against that type of competition throughout last season. There were times they were able to beat Golden and times he beat them, but the fact that they were able to compete so effectively against someone with pro aspirations and who played against the world's best is another confidence booster.

"It's good for us to play at a higher level like that," David DeNunzio said. "Our goal after college is to play [professionally].

"Our first two years at Rollins, we were kind of in the mix [for playing time], but we played every match last season for the first time.

"We're looking forward to next season. We're expecting to play well."

Both are going to work to improve their games in all facets in the meantime. They each said they seem to be hitting the ball well off the tee and are being effective in the short game, but not making as many putts as they would like.

It's only natural to expect some sibling rivalry, but the twin said it just comes naturally to help each other.

"There's no rivalry like that," Ronald said.

"We root for each other and try to help each other to be our best. If I'm not going to win, I want him to win."

David takes a similar view.

"Hey, I was rooting for him all the way in the Tri-State Am," David said. "That's the way we approach it."