Tennis/Golf: Spindler victorious in 'B' draw

Entering the season, the men’s tennis team wondered who would replace the three mainstays of the previous four years: recently graduated Peter Capkovic ’09, Alex Krueger-Wyman ’09 and Alex Vuckovic ’09.

After a successful weekend at the United States Tennis Association (USTA) Invitational, it’s clear that this year’s freshman class is capable of filling the void left by those players’ departures.

The USTA Invitational featured top players from teams across the East Coast, including many from Princeton’s main Ivy League rivals. The Tigers sent a team of eight players to compete in the tournament: four freshmen, two sophomores and two juniors.

The highlight of the weekend came in the “B” singles bracket, where freshman Matt Spindler won four matches to take home the title. Spindler did not drop a set until the finals, where he eked out a 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 victory over Gilbert Wong of Binghamton.

In the “A” bracket, freshman Matija Pecotic — another prized recruit — advanced to the semifinals before falling to Columbia’s Jonathan Wong in straight sets.

Spindler and Pecotic also paired in the “A” doubles bracket, where they won their opening match before falling to a team from Harvard.

The Tigers reached the finals of two other brackets in the tournament.

Freshman Matt Siow reached the finals of the “D” singles bracket before falling to Mike Lampa of St. John’s.

Siow also paired with sophomore Yohei Shoji to reach the semifinals of the “A” doubles bracket. Following a run to the “B” doubles title at the Farnsworth/Princeton Invitational last week, Shoji and Siow are emerging as a potential doubles tandem for the Tigers.

Junior Parker Preyer and freshman Michael Lin were Princeton’s third finals entry. They teamed up to reach the finals of the “C” doubles bracket where they fell to a team from St. John’s.

Junior Alex Faust and sophomore Coleman Crutchfield, the final two Tigers entered in the tournament, both posted wins on the weekend. Faust reached the quarterfinals of the “C” singles bracket, while Crutchfield reached the quarterfinals of “D” singles. The tandem also combined to reach the quarterfinals of the “B” doubles bracket.

At the Bettie Lou Evans Invitational in Lexington, Ky., the women’s golf team struggled to overcome the rainy conditions and waterlogged course. The Tigers finished in 15th place with a collective team score of +57.

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Junior Kate Scarpetta led Princeton with a two-round score of +9 to finish tied for 31st overall on the weekend. Sophomore Wonji Choi pitched in with a +13 that was good enough for 44th place.

Freshman Olivia Garard, senior Michelle Grilli and junior Maggie Boberg also competed in the tournament, finishing in 45th, 70th and 79th places, respectively.

Princeton was one of only three teams that failed to benefit from a watered-down course in the second round of play.

After shooting a combined score of 314 that was good for a 13th place tie after Friday’s first round, the Tigers shot 315 on Sunday to fall to 15th place.

Saturday’s round was canceled due to inclement weather, causing the tournament to be shortened to two rounds.

Though the Tigers struggled with the weather throughout the weekend, the experience of playing in tough conditions early in the season will likely pay dividends when the team enters the all-important Ivy League schedule later in the year.