Judd Pritchard has been quietly leading the men's golf team all season. Overshadowed somewhat by the championship play of freshman Nat Hoopes in last week's Ivy League tournament, the senior captain was back in the spotlight this weekend.
Pritchard led the Tigers to their third straight tournament win on Saturday, as the team defended its home course in the Princeton Invitational. The women's team traveled west to Columbus, Ohio to face off against some daunting competition in the Lady Buckeye Invitational.
Princeton's top men's squad shot a four-over 288 in one round of play at the Springdale Golf Club — seven shots ahead of second-place Penn. Friday's first round was cancelled due to heavy rain and winds on the Tigers' home course. The "Orange" second team finished 21st with a score of 320 — beating the varsity teams from St. Joseph's, George Mason and Cornell.
"All the guys played solidly," Pritchard said. "It was good to keep our streak going."
Pritchard captured the individual championship with a three-under 68 on Saturday. Joe Saladino from St. John's came in second with a par 71. Hoopes had the second lowest score for the Tigers on the weekend — a one-over 72 — putting him in a five-way tie for third overall. Rounding out the Princeton finishers were sophomore James Milam and junior Peter McWhorter with three-over 74s and freshman Cassidy Traub, who shot a 78.
"I think everyone walked off the course satisfied," Pritchard said. "We wanted to defend our home course — and we did."
While the men's team was contending with the unseasonably cold weather in Princeton, the women's team faced their toughest competition at the Lady Buckeye Invitational in Columbus, Ohio to close out the season.
The Tigers finished 13th out of 16 teams with a combined score of 1018 as a team for the weekend. Host Ohio State won the team title with three rounds of 311-315-303 — 929.
'More difficult'
"The competition was by far much more difficult than what we usually face," junior Natalie Christensen said.
The women struggled slightly this weekend, one week after losing the Ivy League championship, as no Princeton golfer placed higher than a tie for 54th place. Christensen's three rounds of 83-86-84—253 was the low score for the Lady Tigers on the weekend. No Tiger shot lower than 10 over par in any one round.
"We would have been a little happier if we had played better," Christensen said, "but all things considered we didn't play poorly."
Princeton had several obstacles to overcome, other than the unusually strong competition. Not only was the course longer than the Tigers were used to, but the team also had to play a grueling double round on the first day.
"It was a good experience to be out there for 36 on Saturday," Christensen said.
The second lowest Princeton score on the women's side was recorded by junior Adrienne Gill and freshman Vanessa Redman — the two finished tied for 58th with 254. Redman shot 82, 88 and 84 in three rounds, while Gill shot 82, 90 and 82. Senior co-captain Meagan Smith finished tied for 77th, shooting 87-91-82—260, freshman Megan Milam shot 91-88-91—270, good enough for a tie for 87th. Wrapping up the Tiger finishes this weekend, junior Liz Pohl shot 106-100-98—304 to tie for 96th.
While the women's team has finished its season, the men have one tournament next weekend before they compete in the NCAA Tournament beginning May 15.
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