The Tufts men’s golf team was greeted by frigid temperatures, heavy rain and strong winds as they arrived at Tumble Brook Country Club in Connecticut this Saturday for the first invitational of their spring season. Despite the intense weather, they finished their first day in seventh place out of 16 teams and moved up to sixth place after a strong Sunday outing.
Graduate student Conor O’Holleran described Saturday’s weather as some of the worst he had ever experienced in his golf career. He commended his team for maintaining resilience through a six-hour tournament day, which contributed to success on the course.
“All the guys on the team, even the ones that weren’t there, they all believe in that kind of mindset,” O’Holleran remarked. “There are teams that just aren’t built for that, there are players who just aren’t built for that.”
O’Holleran also described the difficulties that came with adjusting to the new season. He commented that the “course management wasn’t there” and discussed shaking off the rust that comes with competing for the first time in a season.
“I think a lot of the guys are playing some really good golf right now,” O’Holleran noted. “At this stage, it’s really about building on each practice and each event, both individually and as a team.”
Although the team had room for improvement in their season opener, they still made a strong performance despite the hiccups along the way. In their two-day tournament, the team uncovered highlights and great holes across the board.
Junior Holden Kittelberger and sophomore JP Noone led the way for the Jumbos on day one, impressively finishing just three over par in spite of the unfavorable conditions. The pair tied for 11th place in the individual standings by the end of the day. Strong performances from the rest of the team would leave the Jumbos in an advantageous position heading into day two.
The tournament’s second bout proved to be an even greater showing for Tufts. Continued quality from Kittelberger and Noone landed them in 10th and 12th place, respectively, by the end of the day. Junior Reed Bodley capped off a consistent performance with three birdies on the front nine. O’Holleran commended Bodley, Kittelberger and Noone’s performances, referencing the consistently solid play they have brought to the course ever since they began their tenures at Tufts.
On day two, sophomore Brendan Roy stole the show for the Jumbos. With an electric performance, Roy finished just one stroke over par with three birdies, earning the Jumbos the boost they needed for a sixth-place finish in the 16-team bout. He finished 36th overall, securing the final scoring spot for Tufts.
Moreover, O’Holleran mentioned that Roy experienced an incredible bounce back from a difficult first day, showcasing his robust potential. Though he was impressed, O’Holleran was not surprised by his teammate’s strong performance.
O’Holleran further discussed the importance of being able to rely on his teammates’ abilities. “Even when things weren’t going well, the peace of mind that those guys are playing well is certainly motivating,” he said. Trust, he noted, was crucial to individual confidence-building and improvement in a team environment. O’Holleran emphasized the positive impact of the team’s trust in each other and explained how this strength would shape the coming season.
“In the end, there’s added pressure when you’re playing on a team, playing for other people,” O’Holleran said. However, he indicated that their team dynamic also helps alleviate that pressure. The ability to be dependent on each other will prove to be a great strength as the Tufts team continues their season.
From here, O’Holleran noted, the biggest concern for the coming season would be individual improvement. He said that the solo nature of golf naturally highlights the importance of individual player development heading into the future.
O’Holleran also commented on the ever-changing nature of the team’s roster heading into the coming weeks. “We have such a deep team that next week will probably look a little bit different.” He looked back on his past years at Tufts in his discussion of the team’s depth. “I think that’s a strength that has been added to Tufts golf since I was a freshman here.” From this insight, it can be expected that more players on the team will be expected to get starting opportunities as the season progresses.
From April 12–13, Tufts will attend the Dr. Tim Brown Invitational at Skidmore College, where they seek further improvement and preparation for the future.
