Crimson Takes Home First Yale Spring Open

Harvard men’s golf won the Yale Men’s Spring Open for the first time since the program’s inauguration with a tournament-best performance by junior Michael Shore.

“I couldn’t be more proud of the team,” Shore said. “It’s my third year here and we’ve never won. It’s our coach’s first win at Harvard, and the first time our 33-year-old program has won this tournament.”

In a field of 27 schools, the Crimson’s 585 stroke total edged out second place Skidmore by three shots. Sacred Heart rounded out the top three and host Yale cruised to an eighth-place finish.

“Last year going into the final round we had the lead, [so] we were excited to get a second chance,” sophomore Greg Shuman said.

Despite consistent rain and temperatures in the 30s that made play on Sunday particularly challenging, the Crimson improved from its 296 shot total and sixth-place finish after day one. A three-way tie between Drexel, Temple, and Cornell at 294 faded into memory when Harvard notched the tournament low score for either day with a 289.

“I was the last one on the course and it came down to 18, and coach told me that I needed to make par and I happened to, and then we won by two,” Greg Shuman said. “I hit a good chip up there and left it at three of four feet and he told me that the next shot was pretty important and I made it.”

Shore shot a 73 on day one and a 70 on day two and his total of 143 tied him for the best individual finish at +3.

Harvard’s next best individual performance was delivered by Peter Singh who shot 147 (73-74). Shuman finished at 149 (74-75), Danny Mayer 150 (77-73), John Christensen 151 (81-70), Timmy Wu 152 (75-77), Nick Moseley 153 (76-77). Every player finished in the top half of the field.

“The course places a premium on putting,” Shore said. “I putted great both days though I didn’t hit very well. The greens were bumpy and aerated. They demanded a lot of patience. You’re going to hit good putts that don’t go in.”

Yale’s course lived up to its punishing reputation, allowing only three isolated under par rounds.

“I thought down the stretch we played tremendously well—even par on the last three holes and it probably won us the tournament,” Shuman said. “When you perform that well under pressure, it’s a thing to see.”

Next weekend the team will travel to Providence for the New England Division I Championship and then head into the Ivy League Championship the following week.

“Rewarding to see all our hard work from break pay off,” Shuman said. “We were on the course from 10 a.m. to nine at night. Hopefully, this continues until Ivies and builds on itself.”

—Staff writer Elizabeth A. Joyce can be reached at eajoyce@fas.harvard.edu.