The men's golf team spent the weekend in rainy Williamstown playing in the District One Shootout. Amherst was invited as one of the top 12 Div. III teams from the Northeast, including, of course, rival and host Williams College. Coming into the final weekend of the season, the Jeffs were looking for some much-needed consistency and a chance to prove that they are better than their recent scores indicate.

The team teed off on Saturday at their home away from home, Eph-owned Taconic Golf Club, where the Jeffs play routinely. Playing through scattered showers on Saturday and gale-force winds on Sunday, the Jeffs fired 320-320-640, good enough for 10th overall.

True to form, senior captain Justin Sharaf led the Jeffs on day one, firing a team-best 76-78-154, good enough to tie for 18th place in his final collegiate tournament. Sophomore Andrew Bruns followed with 81-78-159 to tie for 37th place. Junior David Litt posted 80-82-162 and sophomore Sean Jules shot 83-82-165. Junior Keith Zalaski rounded off the roster, shooting 84-85-169.

Rookie Jessie Corradi accompanied the team as an individual and shot 87-85-172. The first-year made the trip to Taconic to get a look at the course before today's Little Three Championship, also at the Ephs' home venue.

Despite the two inches of rain that fell Saturday night, the tournament went on. However, much to the chagrin of Williams coach Rick Pohle, the soggy conditions dictated that play could only continue with the lift, clean and place rule in effect. Even with the course soaked and wind howling, Amherst came out and matched their day-one total, a good sign for the often unpredictable Jeffs.

Though the team definitely took a step in right direction, they were far behind the Ephs who won the tournament on the strength of a school-record 289 on Sunday. Led by Matti Slovitt's individual win, the victory earned Williams a trip to the NCAA National Championship. With today's Little Three Championship to be held on the same 18 holes that witnessed the Purple Cows' impressive weekend performance, the Jeffs must be mistake-free. "Everyone is finally starting to play a little better," said Litt. "But it will take a perfect day to beat Williams."

Even with the odds stacked against them, the Jeffs are excited for the unique format of today's event and the opportunity to knock off their rivals head-to-head. It is the team's only match-play event as the squad plays three-way matches against opponents from Wesleyan University as well as Williams. "This event is always fun, but to take out Williams on their home course before they go to NCAAs would feel that much better," said Zalaski.