Williams Men's Golf Team Season Outlook
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Rick Pohle's Williams men's golf team will be prepping this fall to make a run at the Ephs' first appearance in the NCAA Tournament and after capturing their first NESCAC title since 2008.This is Pohle's 29th season at the helm of the Ephs.
The first goal for Pohle's Ephs is to qualify for the 2012 NESCAC Championship that is played in the spring by finishing in the top four of the NESCAC Fall Qualifier. This year, the NESCAC Fall Qualifier will be played at Lyman Orchards Golf Club in Middlefield, Conn., and hosted by Wesleyan University, Oct. 1 and 2.
The winner of the NESCAC Fall Qualifier serves as the host of the spring NESCAC 4-team Championship that provides the tourney champion with an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
Lost to graduation was the stellar quartet of Bob Camp, Jack Killea, Drew Murray and Jake Wagner, who for the past four years served as the core of Pohle's Eph team. That quartet was on the last Eph team to win the NESCAC Tournament and secure the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament (2008).
No doubt Pohle is going to miss the departed quartet, but he is also very excited to mold a team out of a group that includes senior captain Chris Valle, two talented and tested juniors in Jack Ervasti and Wyatt Sparks, five sophomores, and two promising first years.
.jpg) Chris Valle |
"Chris is a very level-headed individual and I respect his decision making," said Pohle. "I have confidence that he will have a positive impact in determining what the best course of action will be for this young team. His input will be welcomed by the coaching staff and his fellow co-captain, Jack Ervasti."
Ervasti, a junior, earned All-Region honors last year from the Golf Coaches Association of America and was a solid contributor to the Ephs' success in both the fall and spring. Regarded as the top returning player, Ervasti is also a letterman in squash for the Ephs. He is the lone returnee who played in the 2011 4-team NESCAC Tournament.
"Jack Evrasti is our biggest asset going into the season," Pohle said. "He is a very talented player and has a tremendous amount of tournament experience. His primary contribution will be to play his game and make the other players understand that they have to carry their own weight."
.jpg) Jack Ervasti |
.jpg) Siwol Chang |
.jpg) Wyatt Sparks |
"Wyatt Sparks, also has a great deal of tournament experience needing just to steady his game to produce more consistent results — minimize the low levels and contain the high expectations," Pohle commented. "This could be his time to step it up and make us a very strong force in the conference."
Sophomores who may be ready to contribute to the success of the Eph linksters this fall include Jake Abrahams, Ross Bowen, Dylan Dethier, Matt McCarron, and Cody Semmelrock.
Pohle believes he got a glimpse of a bright future last spring when the younger returning players competed in the home Spring Invite and in the Little Three Championship. "Our sophomore group has a tremendous amount of promise, but now they have to show on the 'big stage' (A team)," said Pohle. "I've always said that playing as an individual or on the 'B' team is different than playing on the top squad. I will be interested in seeing who makes the transition the best."
At the 2011 Spring Invite, sophomore Ross Bowen turned in a consistent round of 76 to pace the individuals. Fellow sophomores Matt McCarron played in his first collegiate tournament and fared well with his 78, Dylan Dethier and Cody Semmelrock each battled to come in with a 79.
The Ephs collected their 14th consecutive Little Three title last spring at Taconic where in singles play, Dethier and Bowen continued their impressive play, each closing out their opponent by the 12th hole. Pohle was impressed by the play of the freshmen and expressed optimism about the future of his squad
"First-year players Ross Bowen and Dylan Dethier began the afternoon session with impressive lopsided victories over both their Amherst and Wesleyan opponents," he said. " These guys along with first-years Jake Abrahams and Cody Semmelrock are the future of our program and all four have made great contributions in their short time here."
Three first-years, all hailing form the Northeast will be trying to make a dent in the Eph lineup this fall.
"The first years have a great opportunity to make their impact immediately — usually they come in the hungriest off a full summer of playing and put up good numbers from the start — but the transition to college can slow some of that as the semester progresses," Pohle said. "Jake Goldenring might have a leg up on the others, but Nathan McCue and Jonathan Dely will be in the mix. In addition, we are getting senior Siwol Chang back from his junior year abroad. If Chang returns with his capable game, then the losses from graduation will be diminished even more.
"I foresee a lot of competition within the team this fall as we try to determine the "hot" players," Pohle pointed out. "We have a lot of holes to fill in our competitive roster and fortunately, we have a number of options available to us. My coaching philosophy is based on observations and gut feelings (much like I play the game) and I'm going to continue to make decisions based on these. I have a capable assistant in Kevin Bennison and a couple of co-captains who will very helpful in the process of helping us reach our goals."
The first competition this fall will find the Ephs on the road at the Bowdoin Invitational September 9 and 10 in Brunswick, ME. The Ephs lone home fall event will take place on September 24 and 25 when they host the annual Williams Invite at Taconic Golf Club.
