The golf team returned to play after winter break bigger, stronger, and with a hunger that has not been present in previous years. The team’s off-season workout program, enforced by Head Coach Lorn Foster, has many of the golfers in the best shape of their lives. Shedding pound after pound of unwanted flab in lieu of semi-hard muscle has already paid early dividends for the Sagehens, who, swinging to their outer limits, can routinely drive the ball in excess of 300 yards. However, the team knows that they will not be able to win matches based on the shear intimidation factor of their physiques. The Hens have been averaging more than five hours at the course a day, perfecting and fine-tuning their games.

This physical preparation could not have come at a more opportune time. There was an early-season injury to the sensitive buttocks of Tim McEvoy ’02, however, because of his conditioning, the damage was not permanent, and he was able to return to practice within the week.

Indeed, the Hens are excited about their prospects this year in SCIAC, as they look forward to their first match of the season, February 14th, against Caltech. "We look real good this year," said Co-Captain David Cho ’00. "We’ve got a player in Luc Schuster who could win player of the year." The Hens, though young (they’re fielding three sophomores and a freshman in their top five), are unfazed by this potential weakness.

"The league is real young," continued Cho, one of only two seniors on the team. "We have the talent. It all depends on if the kids put in the work. Winning in this league depends less on talent than on who’s going to put in the work when it counts."

Luc Schuster ‘02, the other co-captain, reiterated Cho’s optimism about the team. "Last year’s team was a big improvement from the year before, and from what I’ve seen of this year’s team so far, there appears to be a big improvement from last year. When you see progress like that, you can’t help but get excited." The Sagehens lost none of their core of players last year, with sophomore sensations R.G. Manalac ‘02 and Tim McEvoy ’02 a year older and wiser. With the addition of diaper dandy Duke Gray ’03, the Hens have five golfers who can go out there and post some low numbers.

However the teams that were strong in SCIAC last year appear to have retained that strength. Archrival CMC is fielding a host of returning players, and league champion Redlands has last year’s MVP returning as a junior.

"Those teams are still good," said Schuster, "But if we play up to the level that we’re capable of, there should be no problems being in contention." That prospect is no small matter for the seniors on the team who have not experienced a winning season. "My freshman and sophomore year, things were pretty ugly," said Cho. "Last year was also disappointing because we had the talent, but we were depending upon three freshmen for the bulk of our scoring, and when you rely on freshmen you’re asking for inconsistency." With those same talented freshmen a year older, this year could not only provide a winning season, but a SCIAC championship as well.