As the men's and women's golf teams play further into the fall, a mix of veteran leadership and great first-year play has emerged for both teams. Following strong play against top competition, both squads have high expectations as they move into the heart of their schedules.
Women place second at Princeton Invitational
The women's team has improved during the brief fall campaign. Opening its schedule at the Yale Intercollegiate, the squad came out swinging and placed sixth. Head Coach Danielle Griffiths said the mix of experience and youth on the team was a key to this season's success.
"We have a good combination of veteran players and first-years," she said.
Captain Megan Tuohy '12 and Stephanie Hsieh '15 topped scoring for Brown, both carding a 231 for the weekend.
"All four of our first-years have posted great rounds, and our seniors are playing very consistently," Tuohy said. "We've been feeding off one another's success."
The success from the Yale Intercollegiate spilled over into the team's play at the Princeton Invitational, where Brown placed second, falling short of Harvard by just four strokes.
"It's the most consistent we've played," Griffiths said. "The hard work we've put into this program is paying off, and our seniors deserve this."
Heather Arison '12 and Carly Arison '12 also bring a wealth of tournament experience and consistency to the lineup. Both shot scores of 237. First-years Hsieh, who placed third individually at the tournament, and Michelle Chen '15 continued to make an impact at the collegiate level.
"Our first-years jumped right in and contributed immediately," Griffiths said.
In a field of six Ivy League competitors at the Princeton Invitational, Brown outplayed every team but Harvard, a perennial powerhouse program. Yale, another consistently strong team, was not at the tournament.
"Our main goal is to keep improving our short game and our scores," Griffiths said.
The team looks to continue its improvement at the Richmond Invitational Oct. 10 and 11.
Men face stiff competition at Adams Cup
The men's team, in a minor letdown after their record-setting round at the Navy Fall Classic, placed 18th at the Adams Cup of Newport. The field was topped by the University of Central Florida, the University of Georgia and Yale.
"It's a learning experience for such a young team, said captain J.D. Ardell '13. "Preparing well for each and every tournament is difficult."
Although the result was not what the team had hoped for, the young nucleus of the team once again showed its talent and potential.
First-year standout Justin Miller '15 set the pace for the team with a 229, following a great showing at the Navy Fall Classic, his first tournament.
"I had a great summer but didn't expect to come in and play so well," Miller said. "Other guys were playing well, and we fed off one another."
Fellow first-year Jon Greb '15 also scored well with a 236. Brown received consistent play from Kyohei Itamura '14 (237), Ardell (238) and Peter Callas '14 (242). The team recognized that if it wants to stay competitive with top-tier programs, it is going to need to have more rounds like its record-setting day at the Navy Classic, Ardell said.
Despite the disappointing showing at the Adams Cup, Ardell said the team feels "pretty confident this week" as it heads into the Hartford Invitational Sept. 26 and 27 after a short week of practice.
"It's a weaker field this week, no top-25 programs," Ardell said. "It's a field we can match up against well."
