Williams to Host 2001 Golf Championship

HARTFORD, Conn. – Williams seeks it second consecutive conference title as it hosts the 2001 NESCAC Golf Championship Saturday and Sunday (Sept. 29-30) at the Taconic Golf Club. The Ephs captured their fifth conference golf title last year. Four different schools have captured the title in the past four years. Middlebury won its first title in 1999, Hamilton captured its second title in 1998, and Amherst won its eighth title in an 11-year span in 1997.

Williams is coming off a record-setting win at the Williams Invitational. The Ephs finished first with team record scores, led by junior Will Sicks, who shot a two-day tournament record of 137 with rounds of 69 and 68. Sicks earned first team all-conference honors last year as did Ned Wydysh, the 2000 NESCAC Rookie of the Year. Middlebury finished eighth in the 21-team Williams Invitational and opened the season with a fifth-place finish in the Duke Nelson Invitational it hosted. Senior Damon Gacicia of the Panthers, the 1999 NESCAC individual medalist, finished third at the Duke Nelson tournament. Junior David Greiner earned medalist honors in last year’s NESCAC Golf Championship.

Hamilton finished 11th at the Williams Invitational behind strong performances from junior Tom Ferrero and senior Tyler Leach, who earned second-team All-NESCAC accolades last season. Amherst placed ninth at the Duke Nelson Invitational and 14th at the Williams Invitational. Senior Mike Blaisdell, a second-team all-conference performer a year ago, has led the way for the Jeffs. Junior teammate Todd Ballaban earned first-team All-NESCAC honors in 2000. Junior Matt Greason and sophomore Brian DiMenna were the top finishers for Trinity in this year’s Williams Invitational. Bowdoin finished second at the Sid Farr Invitational hosted by Colby last weekend. Adam Mackie led the Polar Bears, placing fourth overall.

Tufts placed third at the season-opening Bowdoin Invitational behind the solid play of sophomore Brad Hawes. Junior Arun Lamba of the Jumbos earned second-team All-NESCAC honors last year. Colby, who is led by seniors Matt Simard and Justin Ucko, opened the year with a sixth-place finish in the 12-team Bowdoin Invitational. Wesleyan, who finished 14th at the Duke Nelson Invitational, was led by junior Adam Diamond and sophomore Jim Panczykowski in its first two tournaments of the season. Bates placed eighth in the Bowdoin Invitational with sophomore Andy Kadin taking top honors for the Bobcats. Connecticut College will be making its debut appearance in the NESCAC tournament.

There will be a separate women’s tournament, which will be an individual event, also a 36-hole event played over the two days at Taconic.