The Middlebury men’s golf team was unable to defend its 2012 NESCAC title last weekend, finishing in a tie for third place in the four-team championship tournament at Shuttle Meadow Country Club in Kensington, Conn. Williams captured the team title with a final score of 592, narrowly edging runner-up Trinity’s 594. Middlebury and Hamilton both followed with scores of 605.
Rob Donahoe ’14 led the way for the Panthers, finishing tied for third place overall behind Williams’ Cody Semmelrock and Hamilton’s Greg Scott. Donahoe shot 74 on Saturday and then an impressive par-71 on Sunday to finish with 145. Eric Laorr ’15 was consistent, shooting 74 each day and finishing in sixth place overall.
Billy Prince ’13, a medalist last year, finished with 156. Chris Atwood ’14 was right behind him with 158, improving by eight strokes from Saturday to Sunday. Andrew Emerson ’14 rounded out the Panthers squad with a score of 166.
Middlebury found itself in last after Saturday, but was able to make up three strokes on Hamilton to earn a share of third place. It was somewhat of a disappointing result for the Panthers, who had won the tournament the past two years and four of the previous six.
The men will bring back almost every golfer next fall, as Prince is the lone senior on this year’s squad.
The Middlebury women’s golf team finished their regular season in second at the 2013 Williams Spring Invitational in Williamstown, Mass. on April 27 and 28. Williams won their home event with a combined total of 644, followed by the Panthers (672), Amherst (697) and Vassar (700). The Panthers now wait to hear if they will earn an at-large selection to the NCAA Tournament.
Conditions were difficult for the entire field.
“The course was set pretty tough,” explained Keely Levins ’13. “There were some pin placements out there that the whole field struggled with. [There were] rumors that a girl on another team had a ten putt on a hole.”
“We hung in there and put together a solid [performance],” Levins concluded.
The Ephs’ Georgia Salant won with a two-day total of 154. This was Salant’s third win this season. Not far behind was Middlebury’s Levins, who turned in a strong performance totaling 157 strokes over the two days, and finishing second overall.
Michelle Peng ’15 demonstrated the team’s depth, finishing in third place with a two-day total of 160. The remaining Panther golfers also had strong showings. Jordan Glatt ’15 settled for 16th, Monica Chow ’16 finished 24th and Caroline Kenter ’14 placed 29th.
Levins looks back on this short season explaining,
“The spring is tough because there are only three tournaments,” said Levins, reflecting on the team’s season. “It’s hard to come into the spring tournaments feeling prepared when we really have not been playing outside for very long.”
“The short season demands that we come in sharp, there really isn’t time for big mistakes,” Levins continued. “Our team has handled the pressure well with each player having some of their best two-round totals of the year. We’ve had a season that we are all proud of. Now we are all waiting and hoping for an NCAA bid.”
The Panthers reached the NCAA tournament last season, where Flora Weeks ’12 tied for 14th place.
MEN'S COVERAGE BY KEVIN YOCHIM; WOMEN'S COVERAGE BY CHRISTINE SCHOZER
