Golf Finishes in Sixth
By Joe Gill
Staff Writer

After ending regular-season play with two league victories, the Pomona-Pitzer golf team carded consecutive sixth place finishes in the first two 18-hole SCIAC tournaments. In the concluding 36-hole championship, the Sagehens shot 618 for sixth best on the day. This solidified a sixth-place finish in league, capping off a 3-5 record for the season.

On Wednesday morning at 7a.m., Pomona-Pitzer teed off for the last time this season in the 36-hole SCIAC league championship. Play was divided between the two tracks at the Los Serranos County Club, appropriately labeled the North and South courses. The Sagehens shot a season-low 299 on the North course. Joe Gill '04 shot an even par 72, while Greg Woulfe '03 and Dylan Pelletier-Ross '06 each shot 75. Scott Pearsall '05 came in next with a 77.

The South course proved more challenging for Pomona-Pitzer. Woulfe managed to put up a 76 on the par 74 layout. Ben Hochstein '04 came in next for the Sagehens with a five over par 79, while Gill and Pearsall each contributed 82s. The team total of 618 was not low enough to compete with SCIAC champions Redlands, who clinched the title with an impressive one under par 583.

Coach Lorn Foster had mixed feelings about the day. "Averaging below 75 on the North course was a positive. Woulfe's score on the South was also a positive. But a 319 team score on the South was disappointing," commented Foster.

Last Thursday, the Sagehens competed against the rest of league at Hacienda Country Club. Shooting a team total of 333, Pomona-Pitzer finished just three shots back of SCIAC rival Occidental for a sixth place finish. Hochstein came in lowest for the Sagehens with an 81, while Woulfe '03 and Gill '04 each shot second-best 83's. Pearsall came in next with an 86. La Verne beat out all other SCIAC contenders by shooting 304.

On April 21, Pomona-Pitzer played in the first of two 18 SCIAC tournaments at Annandale Country Club in Pasadena. On a strange day, almost everyone in the league played poorly, including Pomona-Pitzer with a sixth place finish total of 344. Gill's 81 was good enough for a ninth place finish. Hochstein shot an 87, while Pearsall and Woulfe each put up scores of 88. Redlands took the title with a team score of 312.

On a positive note, the Sagehens ended the season with two successive league victories against Cal Tech and Whittier. Playing Whitter at Friendly Hills Country Club, Pomona-Pitzer shot 326, highlighted by Ben Nightingale '05's round of 79. Woulfe played the course in 80 strokes, while Pearsall and Gill shot 83 and 84, respectively.

On April 15, the Sagehens defeated the Beavers of Caltech with a 325 to 361 result. Pearsall was the only Sagehen golfer under 80 on the day with a 78 at Red Hill Country Club. Hochstein was next best for the Hens with an 80, while Gill and Dylan Pelletier-Ross '06 came in at 83 and 84.

Despite playing a then-best round of the year, Pomona-Pitzer lost to CMS on April 12. The Sagehen's team total of 302 was bested by a lights-out Stag effort of 290, two over par. Hochstein shot an even par 72, with Gill contributing a two over 74. Nightingale and Pelletier-Ross both used 78 strokes to get around the Los Serranos North course.

The team looks to improve upon this year's performance in the upcoming season. "We will have seven of eight varsity players returning, as well having Drew Staniewski back from abroad. Also we have two promising recruits. Overall the prospects look good for 2004," remarked Foster, "but I am definitely pleased with this year."