The men's golf team kicked off its spring season with a strong showing at the Campbell Invitational in Buies Creek, North Carolina early this week.
Coach Bill Johnson, now entering his 30th year at the helm of the Dartmouth men's golf squad, was pleased with the team's performance.
Though plagued by illness, the team managed to come in seventh out of a field of 12, including Campbell College, Davidson College and UNC at Greensborough.
With the home field advantage on its side, the Campbell College squad took the tournament with a score just barely over par.
After playing a quick warm-up round at Duke University's course on Saturday, the team arrived in Buies Creek for a practice round on Sunday, followed by two tournament rounds on Monday, as well as one on Tuesday.
Mid-50 degree weather allowed for decent conditions at the Kieth Hills Country Club.
However, as noted by Jon Heaton '99, the course contained many dogleg rights, which are holes that start straight and then make a sharp angle to the right.
Many of the Dartmouth golfers prefer to draw the ball, bringing it from right to left, so these holes proved to be difficult for the Big Green.
In spite of this fact, Jay Danzi '98 managed to post a 76 and a 74. Co-Captain MacKenzie Hurd '98 shot 77-78. The rest of the team finished in the high 70's - low 80's.
While the team was relatively pleased with its performance, they still felt a bit rusty and tentative.
Yet, as Heaton said, "These past few days will give us a nice jump on the other teams up here."
Johnson believes his team is now focused and ready for what is expected to be a wet Yale Invitational next weekend.
