Beating Amherst 7-5 for the first time since 1970 at the Little Threes on Wednesday, the golf team capped off one of the most successful seasons in recent history. Unfortunately, despite defeating Williams in Florida over spring break, the Cardinals fell to the Ephs 10.5-1.5.
At Lyman Orchards Golf Course, the Cards faced off against the Lord Jeffs and Ephs in two rounds of match play, with eight players per team. In the morning four two-man teams played alternate shot match play, which means that each team plays one ball alternating the shot for that ball. The afternoon consisted of eight rounds of single match play. The rounds were scored simultaneously against both Amherst and Williams.
The number-one team of Eli Wilson ’09 and Max Schenkein ’08 defeated All-NESCAC golfers Matt Slovitt and John Kildahl of Williams 3-2 and Jesse Corradi and Chris Valentine of Amherst to get Wesleyan off to a good start on the day. But these were the only victories for the four Wesleyan doubles teams, putting Wesleyan in a 3-1 hole against both Williams and Amherst heading into the afternoon singles match play rounds.
Standout freshman Eli Wilson stepped up his game and defeated Drew Russ of Amherst while tying Slovitt of Williams. Wesleyan continued to rock Amherst in the afternoon as Schenkein, Jeff Sillin ’06, Hal Tift ’06, John Torrenti ’09, and Everett Tatelbaum ’06 all defeated their respective Lord Jeff opponent as Wesleyan pulled ahead to win 7-5.
Williams coach Rick Pohle described the Cardinals’ performance as “gutsy.”
“Many of the matches in the early going were much closer than the final results, and we just beat them with our depth,” Pohle said.
Despite narrowly falling to his opponents at Little Three, top Wesleyan and All-NESCAC golfer Dave Velardo ’08 reflected on the season of a very young team.
“We did a lot of things this season that the Wesleyan golf team hasn’t done recently,” Velardo said. “Our overall scores this year were definitely better than they have been in recent history.”
Velardo was the catalyst in the resurrection of the golf program this season, as he led the team all year, finishing with a stroke average of 77.1. Last weekend in terrible weather conditions at the Williams Opener, Velardo carded a 76, placing fifth of 77 golfers as Wesleyan placed ninth of 13 teams.
“Some role players and young guys really stepped up and that’s what this team is all about,” Tatelbaum said. “We never stopped believing in each other, and that is what matters when you’re out there on the back nine, trying to close out a match against a rival like Williams or Amherst. We know them and they know us. It comes down to making shots when they matter most, and this year, we were able to hit a few good ones.”
Despite losing Tatelbaum, Tift, and Sillin, the team will return most of its top golfers, including Wilson and Velardo.
“We are probably going to bring in one or two good players in the ’10 class,” Velardo said. “We also have a handful of players, sophomores and juniors, who could contend for a starting job.”
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