M., w. golf finish high over weekend

The men's and women's golf teams both faced off against tough competition this weekend. The men's team played well enough to capture fourth at the Princeton Invitational at Springdale Golf Club, while the women's team finished third at the James Madison Invitational.

The men's team took fourth this past weekend at the Princeton Invitational.

The Tigers were led by sophomore Jon Nuger, who shot a two-day total of 141.

Senior James Milam finished right behind him with a 143, and sophomore Greg Johnson rounded out Princeton's top three with a 147. Juniors Cassidy Traub and Nat Hoopes shot a 149 and a 152, respectively, and freshman Creighton Page finished with a 153.

The Tigers started the spring season with a disappointing 11th place finish at the Pepsi Intercollegiate.

After this weekend, however, Princeton — which has finished in the top five in its last two tournaments — now seems to be playing up to its preseason expectations.

Different players have contributed each week to the team's improved performance.

Last weekend freshman Creighton Page led the Tigers to a third place finish at the Navy Spring Invitational, and this weekend Nuger posted an incredible 66 on Saturday to take seventh place overall and lead Princeton to fourth and Milam played consistently and secured a respectable finish for the Tigers. The Princeton women's golf team placed third in the James Madison Invitational in Harrisburg, Va.

The Tigers got solid performances from freshman Avery Kiser, who finished in fourth with a two-day total of 152, freshman Meg Nakamura, who finished with a 154, and sophomore Esty Dwek, who shot a 160.

This weekend's performance should add to the women's team's confidence as the Tigers head into this weekend's Ivy League Championships, which will be held in Jackson, N.J.

Princeton golf will take centerstage this weekend as the men look to capture their third straight Ivy League title and the women look to capture their second straight title.

If the Tiger men and women continue to play as they have been playing recently, getting key contributions from underclassmen as well as consistent play from upperclassmen, both teams could very likely come away with Ivy League titles this year.

Get the best of the ‘Prince’ delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe now »

"We don't have to play our best this weekend to win," Traub said, "but we need to play consistently. Our biggest competition will come from Yale and Penn, two teams we have beaten in previous tournaments this year."

Success for both teams will largely depend on underclassmen, such as David Huestis and Jon Nuger for the men, and Avery Kiser and Meg Nakamura for the women.

Kiser has led the Tigers all year and will be the key to their success at Ivies.

"We have a really good chance of winning," Kiser said. "Although we struggled in the fall due to inexperience, after playing all of the fall and much of the spring we are ready now and are confident that we're going to win."

Princeton will also need Nakamura to play as well as she has been playing this spring if it expects to defend the Ivy League title.

If these underclassmen can overcome the pressure and the upperclassmen can stick to their games, both Princeton teams will be in a good position to take home another Ivy title.