The Yale golf team emerged from competition this weekend ready for the upcoming Ivy League Championships.
At the Yale Spring Opener, the men’s team finished in second place overall, losing only to Army. Chris Eckerle ’02 finished in second place individually, shooting 74-71. Meanwhile, the women’s team finished in 13th place overall at the Lady Duke’s Invitational. Team captain Sarah Seo ’02 shot 77-75 to finish the tournament in sixth place.
Nate Mickelson ’02 finished third despite playing on the second team, firing a 74-72. His finish raises questions about who will comprise the team’s five representatives at the Ivy Tournament April 13-15.
Although neither the men’s nor women’s team played as well collectively as it had hoped, this weekend’s competition clarified what they need to improve.
“We need a group of five for the Ivies, and we have half a week to do it,” men’s captain Louis Aurelio ’01 said.
Eckerle characterized what the team is looking for in its top five performers.
“We are looking for low scores and consistency,” Eckerle said. “Three of the top five are pretty secure. Five guys are fighting for the other two.”
Yale’s Spring Opener also gave the men’s team a chance to scope out its Ivy League competition. Brown, Harvard, Cornell and Dartmouth were all present at the tournament.
“The only one that can compete with us is Dartmouth,” Eckerle said. “They finished just a little behind us, confirming what we can do and showing that we are the best in the Ivies.”
Faced with two absences — Katie Hatsushi ’04 sat out with a wrist injury and Jordanna Davis ’03 was home for the holiday — the women’s team picked up two freshmen for this weekend’s tournament. Although Princeton was the only other Ivy team present, the women’s team was able to get a glimpse of its competition.
“Competing against better teams raised our expectations of ourselves,” Schriefer said.
The women’s representatives for the Ivies also hangs in the balance, since it is unsure whether Hatsushi will recover from her injury. Still, it is guaranteed that at least four of the women’s most experienced golfers will compete.
Both the men’s and women’s golf teams are confident about their chances at winning the Ivies.
“This weekend’s tournament was a good experience to have before the Ivies because our Ivy League competition will not be as tough,” Schriefer said.
Neither team is scheduled to compete in any tournaments before the Ivy Tournament.