Stormy Exit Sours Golf Season

Author: Jake Donaldson

What started as a season full of hope and confidence ended inauspiciously this week, when the final glimmer of optimism for the men's golf team's fall season was extinguished at the 69th annual New England Inter-Collegiate Golf Association Championships (NEICGA) in Brewster, Mass. After a week's rest during which the team tried to regroup from its fourth place NESCAC finish, the Panthers once again received no help from mother nature, who assaulted Cape Cod with rain and wind over the weekend, making it difficult for Middlebury to ever completely gain its focus.

"Heck, I'll be the first to admit that the weather bothered us. This whole season, we just can't catch a break," said a frustrated Jay "future" Yonamine '07, who also noted that the team was "miffed" that the New England tourney took away their fall break.

Indeed, with midterms behind them, and more to come in less than a week, our student-athletes had a tough time working up motivation for the weekend's cold, gray battle. Especially since their real season, which ended at Williams two weeks ago, was no longer of any consequence. "There were more things on our minds than [golf]," admitted Mitch St. Peter '06.5, "I hate to say it, but with nothing really on the line, we didn't bring everything to the table."

The field of competitors at the NEICGA was filled with daunting competitors from the most prestigious Division I and II programs, as well as a few other D-III squads, including a thinned NESCAC lineup of Amherst, Trinity and Wesleyan, as well as the Panthers. None of the D-III teams finished near the top of the 45 team pack. In fact, it is estimated that all finished in the last 10 spots (final results were not yet posted at press time).

Middlebury was not without some individual highlights, however. Chad Bellmare '07, shot a first- day 79, the only Panther to break 80 on either day. Chuck Clement '04, who has been a pivotal member of the team in terms of morale, turned in a solid two-day score of 172, 2nd best on the team, and Derek Singer '05 shot a 175 total.

One disappointing finish was St. Peter, who started the season in a blaze of glory but finished with a tumultuous lack of confidence in his short game. He failed to keep his composure. "What can I say?" a defeated St. Peter said hours after he got off the course. "It was a disappointing end to a disappointing season."

Certainly, none of the Panthers were happy with the end of their season. But the players are keeping a positive attitude about the spring. Bellmare expressed eagerness for another crack at rival Williams, and Clement is looking towards a strong finish to a storied Middlebury career. So, the desire is definitely there for Coach Beaney to channel. "Chekhov, when looking at winter, spoke of a season cold and bereft of hope," waxed St. Peter, "but after the encouraging attitudes I saw [after the weekend], I think the coldest time of year will serve to heat our drive for a spring title."