Behind captains Milam, McWhorter, men's golf takes Ivy crown

Men's golf proved Princeton mighty in the Ivy League jungle this weekend with a win at the Ivy Championships in Jackson, N.J. Consistent individual performances brought the team together for a victory that it had long been yearning for.

As Princeton earned its second consecutive Ivy League title, the Tigers met the great expectations that had been placed on them for another championship. After 36 holes Saturday and 18 Sunday, Princeton totaled a score of 901, finishing nine strokes ahead of second-place Penn. Yale, anticipated to be alongside Penn as the Tigers' toughest competition, trailed both teams to finish third with 917.

Individual performances were highlighted by junior James Milam and senior Peter McWhorter. As team captains, Milam and McWhorter proved by example that they are worthy of the leader status they have been given. Both players ended the tournament tied for first with a score of 220, but Yale's Louis Aurelio took first place in a one-hole playoff.

Freshman Greg Johnson tied for seventh place with a score of 230, while sophomore Nat Hoopes carded a 234 and sophomore Cassidy Traub finished with a 235. Milam, McWhorter, and Johnson were rewarded as First-Team All-Ivy performers.

McWhorter, in particular, demonstrated an impressive two-day run of low scores. With five birdies in the opening 18 holes, the senior ended the day as the only golfer to play under par on the par fours. McWhorter finished the second day in the lead by two after carding rounds of 71-73.

Unable to hold his first place position, McWhorter's 76 on Sunday, combined with Milam and Aurelio's third rounds of 73, pushed the senior into the playoff, which neither Tiger was able to seize. Aurelio's six-foot par putt sunk into the hole, crushing Princeton's team captains hopes of earning an individual title.

Team performance proved steady over the two-day competition. While Yale had the morning lead in round one, the Tigers soon gained and sustained the momentum. Princeton continued to outdistance its opponents, though weather conditions slowed play slightly.

"[Sunday] was windy, so scoring was tough," Milam said.

Weather did not set the Tigers back, though, as they fought to the end for a conclusion that would make their hard work worth the effort.

"Winning has been our goal all season. We have been gearing up for this tournament, and so the win is very gratifying," McWhorter said.

Princeton feels that while the win was well-deserved, the title could have been won by a greater margin.

"We could have shot better. Other teams were good, but we could have done even better," Traub said.

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The team, however, was glad to have met expectations and to have succeeded in defending the title. Performance met the level of play necessary to leave the other teams well behind.

"We felt our chances to win were very good, and we did enough to bring home the trophy," Milam said.

The result of the Ivy League Championships shows the Tigers what they must do as they look forward to the NCAA regionals coming up in May. Each player's contribution counts toward the success that makes Princeton a winning team.

"It took all five guys to contribute for us to win, and that's what we got," Milam said.

As the season winds down and NCAAs loom in the near future, the Tigers have seen that unyielding determination can unite the team for a performance worthy of champions.