Coming off its first tournament win since 2009, the Dartmouth men's golf team continued its impressive season by winning The Classic at Shelter Harbor in Westerly, R.I., on Sunday. The tournament, which included every Ivy League team except Harvard University, was Dartmouth's final event of the fall season.
The women's team also played this weekend, competing at the Harvard Invitational in Hingham, Mass. It struggled against difficult League competition, finishing in seventh place.
The men's team led throughout The Classic, finishing the first day with an eight-stroke lead. The Big Green managed to hold off second-place University of Connecticut in the second round with a total score of 594, besting the Huskies by six strokes.
The team was led by three top-10 finishes, including captain Peter Williamson '12, who finished one over par with a 143. Williamson was tied with Princeton junior Bernie D'Amato after two rounds, but fell to second place overall after losing to D'Amato in a playoff.
Joey Maziar '14 continued his role as an impact player this season, placing seventh with a 148, six over par. James Pleat '13 finished in 10th with a score of 149, seven over par.
The tournament highlighted the Big Green's depth, which has been one of the team's biggest strengths this season.
"You need four to five guys to step up every week, and the last two weeks we've had the numbers," Williamson said.
Maziar has been vital to Dartmouth's success this fall, racking up top-10 finishes in both Big Green wins and joining the ranks of the team's consistent scorers. Williamson said Maziar has been "the difference for the team thus far."
"If you have a fourth who shoots 100 you won't win a single tournament," Williamson said.
Dartmouth's depth has not only helped the team score higher as individuals, but has allowed players to feed off each other and improve as a group.
"Our qualifying rounds have been very competitive this year, and that added competition has definitely helped us improve as a team by making each other better," Pleat said.
Dartmouth will now break for the winter, before returning to play in the spring. The team hopes to maintain its momentum as it prepares for the spring season, as limited practice facilities can make it difficult to keep up a consistent golf game during Hanover's harsh winters.
Pleat noted that it is important for the team to "remember the things that are working well ." Williamson and Pleat both stressed the need for diligent practice over the winter to maintain their swings.
"We have to practice as much as we can this winter, especially on our short game," Pleat said.
Competing at the Boston Golf Club, the women's team finished in seventh place at the Invitational.
Jane Lee '15 led the team, finishing in a tie for fourth place with a score of 157, 13 over par. She finished eight strokes behind the Invitational's winner, Columbia University sophomore Michelle Piyapattra.
Lee was followed by Sarah Knapp '14, who finished tied for 15th with a score of 163. Heather Roland '12 finished 23rd with a score of 169 and captain Marietta Smith '12 finished tied for 32nd with a score of 175.
"The course was really tough because of the highly undulated greens," Savannah Grice '15 said. "The wind was really crazy too."
Despite the Big Green's disappointing performance, the women's team heads into its winter break with two victories this season its first in almost two decades. It won its home tournament the Dartmouth Invitational and the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Championships earlier this month.
Grice, who tied for 36th at the Harvard Invitational, said practice will be essential for the Big Green this winter.
"Repetition in skills sets putting, chipping and full swing allows for the best preparation for big tournaments," Grice said.
