Anchored by Jesse Corradi '08 and Judd Olanoff '08, the team features a mix of seasoned veterans and young talent. Thus far, three staples have emerged. The precocious Wray has made an instant impact, leading Amherst at every tournament thus far and posting an average score of 156.3, earning Second Team All-NESCAC Honors. Chris Valentine '09 was right on his heels, with an average of 159.3 strokes per tournament. Adam Shniderman '10 has also competed in every match, averaging a 165 score.
Early in the fall, the team established its biggest goal: consistent play, evidenced by all five starters posting sub-80 scores on a regular basis. Eliminating the occasional mediocre round is central to accomplishing this objective. The Jeffs instituted several team-building programs this season, most notably designating a golf team table in Valentine Dining Hall for post-practice dinners. Through three weekends of tournament play, the results have been mixed.
Opening the season on Sept. 17 amidst drizzles that dampened the greens at Middlebury College's Ralph Myhre Golf Course, Amherst took 23rd place among 26 teams at the 24th Annual Duke Nelson Invitational with an aggregate score of 663, after shooting 332 in the first round and 331 in the second. Wray led the pack at 160, 18 strokes over par, and placed 52nd overall individually. Just behind him, Valentine and Shniderman shot 161 and 166, respectively.
Corradi and Olanoff did not fare as well, particularly on the first day, when each posted a 92. Corradi finished at 176, Olanoff at 181. The Jeffs faced a frustrating set of greens and strong winds made approach shots tricky. Overall, the showing was mediocre and the team expected better. "Everyone played pretty poorly, considering how we've been playing in practice," lamented Shniderman.
Traveling to Williamstown, Mass. for the Williams Invitational the following weekend, Amherst tied for 13th place among 19 teams. Their total score of 634 marked a vast improvement over their efforts at the Duke Nelson Invitational. The Jeffs were aided in part by familiarity with the par-71 Taconic Golf Club, as most of the veterans had visited the club in seasons past.
Wray, leading Amherst again, shot a 79 in his first round and 77 in his second for a total of 156. As always, Valentine and Shniderman were nipping at his heels, posting scores of 159 and 163, respectively. Glenn Wong '09 came out cold in his first tournament play of the season, shooting a 91 his first day, but matched the team's best in his second round with a 77, for a total of 168. Corradi struggled with several double bogeys and finished at 164.
Despite placing in the middle of the pack at Williams the Jeffs marked improvement. After the match, Corradi commented, "The guys are looking like they are going to peak at the right time, which will make for lower scores and certain improvement from an already much improved showing."
Entering the 2007 NESCAC Championship Qualifiers at Hamilton College, Amherst needed a fourth-place finish or better to secure a berth at the conference championship in April. Competing against nine fellow small-school teams, the Jeffs placed seventh with a score of 640 and failed to qualify by 24 strokes.
In the two days of play, the usual suspects stepped up. Continuing his streak, Wray tied for ninth place overall individually, shooting 153, a mere nine strokes over par. With a total of 158 Valentine was not far behind. Shniderman, playing through a wrist injury sustained when he struck a tree root on the eighth hole, scored 166. Will Collins '09, seeing his first tournament action, finished at 168, while Olanoff posted a total of 171 to round out the scoring for Amherst.
The Jeffs credit the course's challenging greens for their disappointing showing. According to Valentine, "The greens proved exceptionally difficult and cost strokes with three-putts." Breezy weather also complicated approach shots and made the already narrow fairways harder to hit.
Physically, the Jeffs possess all the tools necessary to win. However they lack consistency under pressure, which is best gained through experience. After falling short of advancing to the NESCAC Championships, Amherst will use the spring tournaments to hone their skills in hopes of qualifying next year.
Trinity, Middlebury, Williams and Hamilton Colleges will compete for the conference crown this April. Amherst will close the fall season at the New England Intercollegiate Golf Association Championships on Oct. 21-23, where the competition includes Div. I golf heavyweights University of Rhode Island and Harvard University.