M. Golf Grounded by Tough Yale Course

The men’s and women’s golf teams battled very different courses this weekend, as the men tied for ninth place at the Yale Invitational while the women placed sixth at the Dartmouth Invitational.

The men’s team contended with the challenging Course at Yale this weekend. While the course poses enough obstacles on its own, the Crimon also faced stiff opposition from around the country. The University of Rhode Island pulled away with the win while Yale placed second on its own turf.

“The natural undulations of the piece of land makes it a very difficult golf course,” junior Andrew Klein said.

“[The Yale course is] extremely difficult—dreaded by every golfer in the northeast,” junior Merry Chiampa added in anticipation of next week’s Yale Invitational.

However much he might dislike it, the Elis’ home court seems to suit Klein. He finished in second place, shooting 68-74-74-216, just three strokes behind the leader Andrew Svoboda of St. John’s.

Last year, Klein also topped all Harvard performers, as his 77-77-154 performance earned 13th place.

Sophomore Chris Wu also held his own, tying for 24th place while shooting 76-78-74-228.

“Chris Wu really hung in there and played well through all three rounds,” Klein said. “Anytime you’re able to put those numbers up at Yale is a pretty special event.”

Cliff Ryan also played the course well, tying for 61st while junior Steve Mungovan and co-captain Joe Jackson placed 76th and 79th respectively.

“Yale is always a strong tournament—this year was especially strong,” Klein said. “We’re very much a medium-sized fish in a pretty tough pond.”

While the women’s golf team doesn’t face the challenges of the Yale course until next weekend, the more-forgiving Dartmouth green presented other issues.

“This course was somewhat of an easier course,” Chiampa said. “Whenever you have an easier course, it brings all levels of golfers into play.”

Yale won the contest, while Princeton placed second. Dartmouth, who tied with Brown for fourth in the final standings, set a school record with its first-day score of 309.

The Crimson’s performance was anchored by junior captain Merry Chiampa, classmate Kathryn Kuchefski and sophomore Carrie Baizer.

Kuchefski, a transfer student from Amherst, posted a score of a one-under 73 to tie for the individual lead on the first day. She finished the weekend with a 73-83-156 while Chiampa contributed a 79-80-159.