The golf team has been hard at work preparing for the upcoming fall season. Early morning runs for conditioning have contributed to what junior Carl Schimenti calls “a real dedication to improvement.” Schimenti joins juniors Max Koehler and Craig Esposito as the Red’s trio of captains on a roster devoid of seniors.
Cornell will begin its fall campaign this weekend, as it welcomes Binghamton, Bucknell, Canissius and Lafayette — among a number of other opponents — to the Cornell Invitational. The two-day event will be played at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Course.
When asked their opinions of the course, all three captains unanimously agreed that Robert Trent Jones is a great course.
“I love [Robert Trent Jones,]” Schimenti said, “Of course my opinion is a little biased since I’ve played there since I was in 8th grade.”
The course, which was designed by Cornellians, offers golfers a unique challenge.
“There is a distinction between both nines because Robert Trent Jones Jr. designed them a couple years apart,” Schimenti said. “The back nine is shorter and a little easier to score on, but the green complexes are a little smaller and more challenging.”
Esposito has a longer past with the course, saying it “has been [his] home since high school.”
However, despite being accustomed to the course, Esposito admitted that it still can be quite challenging.
“When the wind is blowing, it can make some holes seem really hard,” he said.
According to Koehler, Robert Trent Jones offers a fair test for golfers.
“[It has] different types of shots throughout the round,” he said.
For the Cornell Invitational, the team needs to select its Top-5 performers — a task that has brought the best golf to the green.
“The competitiveness can only help us in the long run,” Esposito said. “I look forward to competing with … [the] new team.”
According to Esposito, the Red has a talented group of golfers, despite losing a strong senior class.
“We have great guys on the team this year and it is essential to have great team camaraderie to be successful,” he said.
In addition to the Cornell Invitational, the team has the opportunity to compete in the Binghamton, Big 5, Princeton and Yale invitationals, in addition to a new tournament of Ivy League play in late October.
The team is excited to begin playing golf and experiencing “the thrill of competition,” according to Koehler.
“Let’s play some golf and see what happens,” he said.
Original Author: Skyler Dale