This past weekend, the golf squad finished fifth out of 11 teams at the NESCAC Championship, held at Taconic Golf Course in Williamstown, Mass.
The Jumbos ended with a two-day, five-person total score of 635, 24 strokes behind first-place Williams (611). It was the Ephs' second consecutive championship and fifth out of the last six years.
Despite gunning for a better slot, junior tri-captain Matt Linde spoke honestly about his team's finish and Williams' home-course victory.
"We were really shooting for a top-three, but it is hard to compete with teams that have their own course and who recruit heavily," Linde said. "But no one is hanging their head about the fifth spot. Williams knew where to put the ball and I'm not surprised to see them win."
Tufts was led by another junior tri-captain, Justin Meier, whose two-day score was an eight-over 150. Meier led the entire tournament after a spectacular Saturday round of one-under 70, but faltered a little on Sunday and ended up tied for third.
"I probably hyped myself up too much after Saturday," he said. "I had never led a college tournament. If you had told me beforehand that I'd finish in the top five I'd be happy, but after Saturday's round I was looking for more."
Linde talked admirably of the player who he has competed against in practice all year.
"I think [Justin's] been the best on the team this year," Linde said. "He beat me out to have the number one spot in this tournament and I know he's disappointed with his Sunday round, but hopefully he'll do well in New England's."
The low individual score belonged to Trinity junior George Boudria, who was automatically named the NESCAC Player of the Year. He shot a 69 on Sunday and finished with a five-over 147.
Behind Meier was Tufts' other tri-captain, senior Seb Gonzalez, who finished tied for 26th with a 160. Linde was tied for 31st with a 162, sophomore David Hunt shot a 163, and freshman Benjamin Moll rounded out the scoring with a 171.
Linde, who had averaged rounds around 77 all year, had his first round of the year in which he did not best 80 on Saturday.
"I played pretty mediocre the first day," he said. "I kind of panicked that I wouldn't break 80 and ended up with double bogies on each of the last four holes. On Sunday I played solid for 14 holes, but again, the last four roughed me up a little."
Both Linde and Gonzalez shot better on Sunday, with a 76 and a 78, respectively, and despite Meier's ten stroke drop-off, the team knocked three strokes off its combined score on the second day with a 316.
The course is home to Williams, and the only Jumbo to have played it before was Linde. He believes his expierence was detrimental.
"I played it my freshman year and I think I could have played better if I didn't know it and wasn't intimidated by it," Linde said.
On the other hand, Meier had not seen Taconic Golf Course, and he feels that benefited him.
"I didn't know what to expect of the course," Meier said. "Ironically, I think that helped me because I just took it one shot at a time."
Up next for the team is the New England Championship, which will take place Oct. 16-18.
"It's the biggest and oldest college tournament in the country," Linde said. "It's comprised of about 40 teams and it's really cool because you get to go against players from schools like UMass and UConn."
In spite of the lofty competition, Meier is looking for positive results and an improvement on Tufts' 20th-place finish last year.
"We have guys who can shoot in the mid-70s, but we haven't put it together on one day," Meier said. "We have four out of five guys who played in it last year and we're just looking to finally get a day when we all get it together."
The New England Championship will be held at the Captain's Golf Course in Brewster, Mass., and the October morning weather on Cape Cod could play a factor.
"We'll be hitting balls in rain jackets to prepare," joked Linde.
Beyond the golf season, Meier said he trained and played in tournaments this past summer, hoping to compete professionally on mini-tours after graduation.
"At that time, we'll see where my game is," said Meier. "But it's my dream so I've got to give it a shot."
