The 2007-08 seasons for the women’s and men’s golf teams were drastically different. While the women showed consistent improvement throughout the season and received strong contributions for a number of young players, including standout Hayley Milbourn ’11, the men’s season was largely a disappointment. This season, the women hope to continue their climb back to the top of the golfing community and the men hope to follow their lead.

Women

The women’s golf team’s turnaround last season was one of the most impressive in Div. III golf. The Jeffs have Milbourn to thank, who was named the 2007 NCAA Div. III Freshman of the Year. Led by Milbourn, the Jeffs finished third at the Williams College Invitational and their efforts qualified them for the NCAA Championships, which the team chose not to attend due to academic obligations.

Even more promising for the Jeffs is the fact that they are losing only one player, last year’s team captain Ali Berman ’08. Although Berman was a key contributor, the Jeffs have younger athletes ready to step up with another year of experience under their belts. Junior Kinne Schwartz is coming off a strong season, in which she consistently finished as the Jeffs’ second lowest scorer to Milbourn. The Jeffs will also look for contributions from sophomores Alissa Korpi and Jordan Chafetz, as well as Alex Chang-Graham, who will only compete in the fall season due to softball.

The Jeffs, however, are quite excited about their first-year class. Laura Monty, Nina Yoo and Elaine Lin all have the ability to break into the lineup and help the Jeffs further their climb up the ranks.

Men

The Jeffs are coming off a somewhat disappointing season, but are returning some of their strongest players as they look to improve in the 2008 season. The Jeffs graduated Judd Olanoff ’08 and Jesse Corradi ’08, but are confident in the first-year class.

The Jeffs will be led by a strong senior core, as captains Chris Valentine ’09, Glenn Wong ’09 and Will Collins ’09 have the ability to post competitive scores. Amherst should also receive key contributions from junior Adam Shniderman and sophomore Trip Wray, who was the Jeffs’ low scorer last fall season. His amazing score of 153 placed him tied for ninth place in last year’s NESCAC Championship Qualifier.

Trinity Invitational

The men’s golf team opened their fall season last weekend, finishing in sixth place at the Trinity Invitational. Amherst’s total score of 633 put them 30 shots behind the champion, Nichols College. The Jeffs were led by their senior tri-captians, as Valentine, Wong and Collins were the team’s top three finishers, respectively.

Valentine shot a 154 on the weekend for a 10th place overall finish. Wong also had a strong tournament as his second round score of 78 finished him tied in 23rd place. Collins and Wray finished tied in twenty-eighth with a 163 total weekend score.

“It was a solid start to the season,” said Valentine. “We had solid contributions from everyone, including the new players.”

The new players, brothers Nate and Mike Belkin ’12 had impressive totals of 164 and 165, respectively, to finish fifth and sixth on the team. Although the Jeffs’ senior core brought in the lowest scores, the team understood the importance of their new players’ contribution.

“Great start to the year,” said Wong. “The Belkin brothers had a solid start to tournament play. We think we can get better though and have a solid showing at NESCACs in a few week.”

Although NESCACs are in the near future, the Jeffs still have time to improve as they travel to Middlebury College for the Duke Nelson Invite.