With its first invitational fewer than three weeks away, the golf team is hard at work in preparation for the 2011-12 season. Following an eighth place finish at last year’s season-ending Ivy League Championship, the Red is looking to make a turnaround this fall by lowering scores and climbing in the ranks.
In order to instill a new attitude, veterans on the team have taken preseason workouts in a new direction.
“Right now, the seniors are trying to make modifications to make practice more structured,” said senior John Dean.
Dean, who finished with the best score of all returning Red players in the 2011 Ivy Championship, will likely be a key leader on the team this season.
The other seniors on this year’s squad are Drew Baity, Alex Lavin and Alex Simson. The three have shown promise that should contribute to the Red’s cause.
The graduation of five players from last year’s small squad, including Cornell’s top finisher Matt Jaye ’10, leaves many new spaces to fill. Underclassmen will assume more prominent roles as they fill the vacancies left by last year’s graduates.
“Last year’s freshmen on the team, now sophomores, developed a lot over the summer and have shown a lot in the game so far,” Dean said, impressed with how his younger teammates have come along.
In addition to the sophomores on the team, new players will soon join the squad; the team is currently in the midst of tryouts.
“We’re looking for consistency,” Dean said. “That is something we have lacked in the past so we are looking for players who can consistently shoot their scores.”
At this point, the turnover seems promising.
“We have a few new kids coming in who have shown a lot of talent. It’s very unexpected, but they’re going to bring a lot of depth to the team,” Dean said.
With so many changes to this year’s roster, a novel group of players will represent the Red and a new team dynamic figures to accompany them. Nonetheless, everyone is very excited going into the season —energy has been high for old and new players alike.
“So far it has been great, even though there are no juniors,” Dean said. “There has been good team camaraderie and everyone has had a positive outlook.”
The Red’s efforts will be tested when practice translates into real competition on Sept. 18, when the team hits the course at the St. Bonaventure Invitational.
Original Author: Reena Gilani