This fall the Jeffs played in four tournaments. The first was the Dartmouth Invitational in September where the Jeffs came home with a 17th-place finish. Harper led the team with a two-day score of 166 and tied for 41st overall. Berman and Sidman posted 176 and 198, respectively. The following Saturday Amherst played in the Mt. Holyoke Invitational. They shot a two-day score of 397-379-776. Harper again led the team with a score of 176, while Berman came through with a 183, Beneski finished with a 206, and Sidman shot a 211.
During the NESCAC Championship hosted by Middlebury College, Harper placed fourth in the tournament, just eight strokes back from the individual medalist. She shot a two-day score of 162, while Sidman finished 24th shooting a 186 and Beneski placed 28th with a score of 195. Unfortunately, the Jeffs were unable to post a team score because they could not field enough players.
In their final fall tournament, the Jeffs finished with a strong fourth-place finish at the Wellesley Invitational. Harper fired a round of 80 and finished third, only five strokes back from the medalist. Berman came through with a 91 and Beneski posted a 99. Sidman closed out the scoring with a round of 104 for the Jeffs.
After a successful fall season finish, the Jeffs will play this spring as individuals, unable to post a team score. To compete as a team in tournaments a school needs four representatives. With only three, Amherst will enter its players as individuals.
"We lost some key players to graduation last year and we failed to recruit any new first-years," explained Sidman. "So we struggled during the fall season with having enough players. Now that Sarah Harper has gone abroad to Argentina, we are unable to compete as a full team."
Despite a lack of numbers, the team is optimistic about what they will be able to gain this spring. The sophomores will have ample opportunities to work on their individual play in upcoming tournaments. "This season will be a rebuilding season with Ali and Kristin looking to improve for competing next year," said Sidman. "I'm going to try and finish up my Amherst career on a positive note, and reach some individual scoring goals."
"We're taking advantage of this as an opportunity to develop our personal competitive games without being concerned about a team score," added Beneski.
Berman and Beneski played in their first spring tournament this past weekend, the Wellesley Spring Invitational. "Because it was just the two of us, we didn't compete as a team, but rather as individuals," said Berman. "Saturday was an awesome round for Kristin, [and] I played all right. Sunday was very windy and so it was hard to score."
Beneski had an impressive first day with a score of 90. She finished the weekend with a score of 184, while Berman shot a two-day score of 194.
This Friday the Jeffs will play in the Mass State Tournament at Orchards in South Hadley. "[Over the weekend] we will be co-hosting the Jack Leaman Tournament with Mt. Holyoke, where Melissa Sidman '06 will be joining us to play," said Beneski.
Given the opportunity to practice individual skills, the return of Sarah Harper, and as Beneski said, "some good prospects for next year," the team is optimistic about its future and will be maximizing what they can from this spring.