Princeton University Athletics
1999-2000 Men's Golf Outlook
August 09, 1999 | Men's Golf
Aug. 9, 1999
For the last four year's Ben McConahay was the men's golf team's No. 1 player. After losing McConahay to graduation, along with three other seniors, the Tigers have holes to fill, not to mention championships to win. Despite the departure of the four members of the Class of 1999, this year's squad does not lack in upper-class experience. Nine players on this year's team are either juniors or seniors. Add to that a collection of talented underclassmen and you have a combination for success.
Leading the way is senior Judd Pritchard. A soft-spoken leader in his own right, Pritchard will be counted on to contribute each time out. Pritchard won the Ivy League crown as a freshman and has the capabilities to repeat this season. The junior class continues to be the important link in this year's chain. Peter McWorter and Max Gage both have the credentials to help the Tigers return to championship status and must play at a high level for Princeton to be top competitors. The Tigers need Gage to return to his freshman form. Four other juniors will vie for a position in the top five. A pleasant surprise for the Tigers was the impressive play of James Milam last season. Milam was the only freshman to break into the starting lineup. In appeared in all varsity tournaments in the fall and posted solid marks in the spring. He is half of the first brother-sister golf duo at Princeton, as his younger sister Megan will join the women's team this fall as a freshman.
The Tigers welcome four outstanding freshman to this year's team. Three of the four make the cross-country trip from the Sunshine State to attend Princeton. Cassidy Traube is from Long Beach and attended Valley Christian in Cerritos. A native of Irvine, Bryan Zech is a graduate of Mater Die in Santa Anna. Michael Brownstein comes from Encinio, where he attended Harvard-Westlake Academy. The lone entry from the East Coast is Nathaniel Hoopes from Marion, Mass. He attended Phillips-Exeter Academy in Exeter, N.H. The Tigers will need strong contributions from these newcomers. They all have the capabilities to have an early impact.
Scores in the world of men's golf have continued to improve over the past decade. Princeton has been right there in the mix. The Tigers have found themselves in the Top 10 in District II for the past 10 years. Last spring the Tigers posted their lowest tournament round average (300.9) this decade, proving Princeton is still one of the top teams in this region. For the Tigers to make a run at the Ivy League championship, players will have to put up solid scores on back-to-back competitive days. A more consistent level of play will give the Tigers the strength needed to top the leaderboard.