he Tufts golf team had one number on its mind coming into this weekend: four. That would be a fourth-place finish or better, which would have ensured the team a spot in this spring's conference championship.
However, the Jumbos came away with a disappointing result, as they fell one step short of their goal and finished fifth at the NESCAC Fall Qualifier. The tournament was held at the par-71 Waubeeka Golf Links in Williamstown, Mass. The hosting Williams Ephs were the tournament champions, with an impressive two-day team total of 595. Tufts finished with a cumulative score of 625, 30 strokes off the lead and 17 strokes behind fourth place finisher Middlebury College.
The result was especially tough to swallow because the Jumbos compiled the best round of their season on Saturday. After first-round action, Tufts was alone in third, poised to capture its first NESCAC Championship berth under head coach Bob Sheldon.
"We came out and fired an even 300 on Saturday, our best day of the year," senior Cal Shapiro said. "We were playing our hearts out and doing everything we could to qualify."
Tufts' short-game benefited from softer greens due to Saturday's rain, as the Jumbos were able to avoid costly three- and four-putts. Play was called on Saturday due to darkness, with juniors Luke Heffernan and Danny Moll on the 17th tee.
Sheldon showed his trademark ingenuity and motivational creativity after Saturday's action was called and the Jumbos were boarding the team van back to the hotel.
"First or fourth, there's no looking back boys!" Sheldon yelled as he tore down the rearview mirror.
The tactic appeared to work, and a message was clearly sent to the team.
"We couldn't have been more fired up after Coach's speech," senior Brett Hershman said. "We just wanted to get right back out there again."
Tufts did in fact get an early start to their next day, as the entire squad showed up at 9 a.m. to support Moll and Heffernan on their final two holes. The moral support seemed to pay off, as the two juniors combined to go one under-par on 17 and 18.
"Every team still had two players on the course finishing their rounds on Sunday morning," Shapiro said. "But Tufts was the only squad to wake up early and support their teammates. That's how a team is supposed to help each other."
But the team couldn't put together the round it needed, as it shot a 325 on the second day of the tournament.
"There were no excuses for our play on Sunday," Hershman said. "We'll just have to step back, re-evaluate and put together two solid rounds at New Englands."
Heffernan was the team's low man for the weekend, shooting a 72 and a 79 for a total of 151, good for a 12th-place tie in the individual standings. Moll was second on the team, shooting a 74 and an 80 to notch a 20th-place tie overall. Hershman and freshman Mike McCarthy both shot cumulative 160s, and Shapiro rounded out the team with a total of 179.
"I really flopped off the dock this weekend," Shapiro said. "I turned 21 so I don't know if I was thinking about that or whether it was nerves. But the fact remains, my style is impetuous and defense is impregnable, so I know I'll be able to get it back."
Coach Sheldon has other ideas for team improvement
"We're going to have to start heavier workouts, because I think we just ran out of juice on the second 18," he said.
Hamilton College and Trinity College took the other two qualifying spots, finishing second and third in the tournament, respectively. Senior Phil Preiss of Hamilton was the individual champion with an even-par total of 142.
The Jumbos hope they can put the disappointment of this weekend behind them, and the team remains upbeat about its chances at the New England Championships.
"We really wish we could have gotten that fourth place finish for Coach Sheldon, but we have to move on," Shapiro said. "I'm still really excited about our team's prospects."
