Yale Athletics

It is hard to find someone on Yale’s campus who is more upbeat than first-year golfer and Orinda, California native Matthew Lin ’28. His effusive optimism and relentless positivity quickly endeared him to his teammates.

“He is one of the happiest people I have ever met,” said teammate Andrew Stickel ’27. “He is always smiling and always seems to take the positives out of everything he does. He is a huge addition to our team culture.”

Yet, although his glass-half-full mentality has never seemed to waver, Lin and the team have definitely faced their fair share of adversity so far this season. In fact, they started off their 2025 campaign with two last-place finishes at The Prestige tournament in mid-February and at the All-American in Humble, Texas, the following month.

After a disappointing start to the season, the Bulldogs needed a significant mentality reset. After all, this is still largely the same uber-talented team that won the Ivy Tournament last year and recruits some of the top high-school prospects in the country. 

During their stay in Statesboro, Ga., while taking part in the Schenkel Invitational over the weekend of March 22, the Elis got that perspective shift from an unexpected source. 

“When we were in Statesboro, Ga., our host family’s warmth and generosity really stood out,” Lin told the News. “It reminded us to look beyond ourselves and give back. Honestly, that helped reset my mindset, and I think it put me in a better place heading into the next tournament.”

Indeed, it was the simple graciousness of the tournament assigned team hosts  — Bill and Andrea Howard — that helped the group put aside their on-course struggles. Since departing Statesboro, the Bulldogs have been a completely different team, and they are back to their winning ways in full force.  

In their final outing in the month of March at Rolling Green Golf Course in Springfield, Penn., the Elis vanquished the rest of the field. The team shot a combined +6 in Round 1 and then bettered that with an overall +1 in the second and final round to overcome 11 formidable opponents and secure the victory at the Columbia Spring Invitational.

“Anytime we tee it up, our goal is to win,” Head Coach Keith Tyburski said to the News. “That said, winning isn’t easy, and we’re very proud of this accomplishment. Securing a victory in the spring as we prepare for the Ivy League Championship is a big confidence boost for our group.”

The way the team stormed back in the last round to overcome a streaking Arkansas squad can, in part, be attributed to the resilience that early-season woes have imparted on this Yale squad. 

Leading the charge was Lin and his wide-eyed grin, as he finished tied for first-place among all golfers with an overall finish of 139, one under par.  

“Rolling Green was a challenge with the wind and punched greens, and I’m still a bit in shock that I came out on top,” Lin said. “Winning my first collegiate tournament was huge, but the real highlight was our team victory. It felt great to see all our hard work pay off.”

After his standout performance helped the Elis take home the trophy, Lin was recognized by the Ivy League as Golfer of the Month for March.

“Being named Ivy League Golfer of the Month was unexpected and, honestly, felt a little surreal,” he said. “I definitely wrestle with some imposter syndrome. Still, moments like this remind me how lucky I am to be playing college golf.”

After a couple of well-earned weeks of rest, the team packed their bags for New Jersey to compete in the Princeton Invitational, where they finished fourth in a field of fourteen teams. Junior Will Lodge ’26 played his best golf of this spring and finished fifth overall after posting two rounds of even-par 71.

Now, the team is squarely focused on defending their title in the Ivy League Championships on the weekend of April 25.

“We’re in a good position going into Ivy’s,” senior captain Ben Carpenter ’25 said. “Next week is the biggest week of our season, and after coming up short to Princeton, we’re fired up and motivated to give them our best.”

With the latter tournament slated to be held at the same venue in Springfield that the Bulldogs just played so well at, the Elis know that they are more than capable of going back-to-back.

“Rolling Green is an awesome venue,” senior Blake Brantley ’25 told the News. “It requires length off the tee and a lot of conviction with decisions. We all thought that it fits our games well before the tournament, and after winning there, we have a lot of confidence going back in a couple weeks.”

While the greens may play in the Elis’ favor, they will undoubtedly face some stiff competition from some familiar faces.

“Princeton has a strong team this year and will be a tough competitor.” Carpenter said. “During my time at Yale, we’ve gone back and forth with them and both teams have a rich history of success. I’m excited to see how the next three weeks unfold.”

Before Yale took the crown in 2024, the Tigers had won two of the previous three Ivy titles.