The golf team finished its season on Tuesday at the New England Championships at the Captain's Course on Cape Cod. The team placed a respectable 27th out of 46 teams after the two-day event and was amongst the top three Division III schools to participate. The New England tournament is the largest in the region, hosting schools in all three NCAA athletic divisions.
Tufts golfers combined on the first day to score a 339 - an average of 84.75, a disappointing total for some Jumbo golfers. "We didn't play too well the first day," sophomore Brad Hawes said.
But consistent with the season's trend, the team significantly lowered its total on the second day, shooting a combined 328 for an 82 average.
"We all played pretty solidly all day," Hawes said. "We passed about 16 teams from the first to the second day. We were happy with the finish."
Junior Arun Lamba was the high scorer each day, shooting a pair of 80s on the two par-72 courses. There was little doubt among his teammates that Lamba was the Jumbos' tournament MVP, as he posted the low score for the first time of the season.
"I was impressed with Arun," said junior Dan Kramer. "I knew it was just a matter of time before he threw in a good tournament."
The Captain's Course is a two-course facility, which hosted the tournament on its Starboard Course the first day, and its Port Course on Day Two. But there was little difference in the difficulty of the two courses. "The Port isn't significantly easier," Lamba said. "I think we just had more experience on the second day."
Experience would explain the downward trend of the team's scores on the second day of competition. Junior Dan Kramer scored an 86 the first day and an 81 the second. Sophomore Brad Hawes went 86, 82, while junior Brian Tarmey followed his 87 with an 86.
Senior Eric Muhlanger, in his final tournament, scored an 89 then an 85, highlighting the tournament with a birdie on the last hole of his career. The senior stuck his approach on the 544-yard par five to within a foot of the cup, and tapped in for the bird. "It was really cool for him," Kramer said. "He was a four-year letterman which is impressive in any sport."
Despite the dramatic finish, the season was definitely a turbulent one for the Jumbos. "We had some erratic performances," Kramer said. "Next season we need to see more people playing to their abilities."
Of the top five, the team is only losing Muhlanger, but is getting back the top golfer from a year ago, junior Elliot Barr. As far as off-season work, the golfers will mostly play and practice on their own to prepare for the 2002 season.
"Basically Brad [Hawes] and I alternated shooting the low scores," Kramer said. "More him than me."
But with the addition of Barr, the team will have a trio of golfers that can shoot in the 70s every time out.
Kramer, who emerged as a top two player on the team this season, was generally pleased with his play. "Most of the season I was pretty happy," he said. "Still, I felt like I gave up shots here and there, freshman mistakes, and over the course of the year they add up a little bit."
Brad Hawes, who faced the high expectations of being the top golfer for the first time this season, said he has some work to do before next year. "I need to step up my all around game," Hawes said. "But there's nothing specific to work on."
Though Tufts underachieved this season, next season looks promising. "Don't sleep on the golf squad," Kramer said. "With the group that is returning for next year, I definitely won't."
