By JEFF ASIEDU
This past weekend, Cornell’s men’s golf team played its last match of the season, the Macdonald Cup at Yale. The team played admirably, scoring 609 to earn a ninth place finish out of 13 teams, but the story of the meet has been one of the main stories of Cornell golf: the emerging dynasty of the two Graboyes brothers, sophomore Michael and junior Luke.
Michael Graboyes is already an emerging star for Cornell and started this fall season coming off of a freshman year that saw him win second team All-Ivy League honors. At The Course at Yale, he performed well despite harsh weather conditions.
“The conditions were so brutal with high winds and rain,” Michael Graboyes said. “I did my best to stay focused mentally, especially on Saturday when we played 26 holes. I tried to play to my strengths, which is solid iron play, and I was able to drop a few putts and make a ton of pars. Par is alw
ays a good score playing a challenging golf course in the conditions we faced.”
Luke Graboyes is quick to point out just how impressive the score actually was.
“My brother’s round of 70 is undoubtedly the best round played by any golfer on our team this season,” the elder Graboyes said. “It was extremely difficult to score well during the final 18 holes of play.”
The junior had a decent showing at the Macdonald Cup, placing 45th, but he remains critical of his play.
“My performance at The Course at Yale was my lowest finish this calendar year,” he said.
Despite the lackluster performance in the Cup, Luke Graboyes said he was able improve on his game this semester.
“Overall, I believe it was of my best semesters of competition here at Cornell,” he said. “I have matured as a golfer tremendously since last year, as well as last semester.”
The brothers are from Watchung, New Jersey, and both attended and golfed at Watchung Hills Regional High School in 2013. Luke Graboyes won the Tournament of Champions and was named New Jersey High School Golfer of the Year, and in 2014, his younger brother achieved the same lofty triumphs.
The brothers said having a sibling to play with for so long has definitely helped them achieve such a high level of skill in the sport.
“We play together almost every day during the season and over the summer,” Michael Graboyes said. “Besides the added competitiveness and pushing each other, we both know each other’s games so well.”
The Macdonald Cup marked the last match of the fall season for Cornell golf; the team will resume play in the spring, when major Ivy League tournaments will begin.
“My goal is to win every tournament I play in,” the younger Graboyes brother said. “Not only does that mean I’m playing well individually, but also it means I am having a great impact on the team’s chances to win as well.”
Aside from the Graboyes brothers, there are several other pivotal golfers who will need to contribute for the Red this spring. Freshman Jack Cen has already established himself as a talented golfer for the Red, coming in second among Cornell’s golfers this weekend at Yale. Sophomore Chris Troy and senior Brandon Eng will also be key golfers to watch.