McWhorter thrives on competition, team play for men's golf

As the long road of competitive golf comes to an end for senior Peter McWhorter, reflection over the journey proves that competitive team play has made the effort worthwhile.

McWhorter's passion for golf began early on. In fact, this natural seems to have been as instinctively inclined to learn golf as he was to learn how to walk.

"I've been playing for as long as I can remember," McWhorter said. "I guess I had a little five iron from the time I was about four years old."

Initiating his own beginnings as a golfer, and with encouragement from his mentor, his father, McWhorter began junior tournaments around the age of ten. The avid golfer won individually as a junior player and continued to soar as a member of his high school team.

Finally, as part of Princeton's golf team, McWhorter got to experience the thrill of playing for a team in a predominantly individual sport.

"You grow up playing by yourself and traveling to tournaments. It is interesting to be rooting for your teammates as opposed to trying to beat everybody. It has been a lot of fun," McWhorter said.

A lot of time on the road has brought the team very close. What do teammates say of their captain this season?

"I think Pete is what a captain for a sports team should be. He's not a very vocal person but rather leads by example," freshman Greg Johnson said.

In addition to strong leadership, McWhorter's contagious love of golf and competitive eagerness spread through the team like wildfire.

"Most of all, he loves the game and the opportunity to compete," said sophomore Nat Hoopes.

Also impressive is McWhorter's unshaken commitment to the Tigers throughout his four years as a member of the golf team. This steady player has participated in every tournament and continued to practice despite the onslaught of senior thesis stress.

Now that his thesis has been completed, McWhorter looks forward to even more practice time and increased focus on the course.

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The senior is now concentrating on the upcoming Ivy League tournament beginning April 13. McWhorter hopes that the team can repeat last year's victory.

"The win last season in the Ivies was a big accomplishment for us. Things have been rolling along well with the team, and I hope we can keep that up," said McWhorter.

The captain foresees that the team will face a competitive Ivy League field, with the toughest challenges most likely coming from Penn, Yale, and Dartmouth. And while he has not yet won an individual tournament, McWhorter looks optimistically towards achieving a victory before graduation.

"I haven't won any yet, but maybe I can do that this spring," McWhorter said.

McWhorter's records show the consistent performance which McWhorter is known for.

"His scores are very consistent. Our team can always count on a good performance by him," Johnson said.

McWhorter's junior year record reveals a second place title in the individual competition at the Stabler Invitational with a final score of 144, propelling the team to a third place finish. McWhorter continued by placing fourth individually at the Navy Spring Invitational. This year, McWhorter notched a 152 for a seventh place finish at the Georgetown Invitational.

As for what the future holds? McWhorter knows that golf will always be a part of his life.

"I hope to play not just for fun, but competitively, because that's what I enjoy about it," McWhorter said.

And yet with medical school approaching, McWhorter recognizes that golf will move from its central existence in his life down to a more low-key hobby.

"I will probably never play as much golf as I do now. [It] will probably just be something on the side," McWhorter said.

Although the sun is setting over the peak of McWhorter's golfing career, he has left behind a trail of memories that will survive long after he has left Princeton University.