Fourteen teams to compete at Princeton Invitational

Just one week short of the Ivy League Championship, this weekend's Princeton Invitational not only gives the men's golf team an opportunity to impress family and friends, but it's also the last chance to "send a message to the Ivies that we're ready to go," junior Brent Herlihy said.

This Saturday and Sunday, the Springdale Golf Club will host fourteen golf teams, including Penn and Columbia.

"A lot is at stake this weekend," senior captain Jason Gerken said. "This is our only home tournament, so it means a lot to play well in front of family and friends."

Coming off a ninth-place finish at the Drew Upton Invite, the Tigers are looking forward to removing any doubt that they are ready to take on the competition.

"We need a decisive victory to get back in the hunt for one of the district's four automatic bids to the East Regional," Gerken said. "Also, we'll see some Ivy teams this weekend, and it is always nice to put them in their place before we get to the Ivy League Championship."

The Tigers know what they need to do this weekend, and some of that comes from a home course advantage.

"The 'dale is not a course where you're going to have trouble off the tee," junior John Sawin said. "Putting is where we're going to have to improve."

Two years ago, the Tigers won the Princeton Invitational, but last year they came in third. This year Princeton is looking for fan support to help them come out on top.

"Students don't realize that golf can actually be a great spectator sport," Herlihy said. "We'd love to see fans out there on the course."

If you make it out to Springdale this weekend, prepare for inspired performances by the men's golf team.

"We must protect the 'dale!" freshman Drew Maliniak said.

The women's team also has something to protect this weekend: the Bonnie Hoover Invitational title, hosted by James Madison University.

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"Last year we beat out JMU down the final stretch for a Tiger win," junior Sharla Cloutier said. "So we'd like to bring the title home again."

Princeton trailed JMU by one stroke after Saturday's rounds last year. On Sunday they were able to make up the deficit and shoot two under the score of host JMU to win the title.

"We shot a Princeton team low in the final round last year," Cloutier said, "and it would be great if we could do that again."

Princeton is confident that it will be able to stand out this weekend in Virginia, especially coming off a strong third place finish last weekend at the Georgetown Invitational.

Individually, Cloutier was ahead of the pack with a three-way second place tie of +9. Other top Princeton finishers were freshmen Marlowe Boukis, who tied for 10th, and Susannah Aboff, who tied for 15th.

One week before the Ivy League Championship, and with a fresh outlook on its game, Princeton is looking to notch the number one spot this weekend and impress the competition.