SEASON RECAP: Harvard Golf Fifth at Ivies

By many measures, the men’s golf team had the finest season in its history. Harvard’s scoring average of 294.07 shattered its previous best by more than seven strokes, and the Crimson finished better than sixth at every event. Yet for the 35th straight season, Harvard could not capture the Ivy League Championship on the final weekend, as it gave up a first-round lead and finished in fifth place.

“We left a little bit on the table as far as the Ivy League Championship is concerned,” sophomore Mark Pollak said. “But overall, this season was definitely a success.”

Despite the disappointing finish, the team’s core of Pollak, sophomore Tony Grillo, senior Greg Shuman, captain Danny Mayer, and junior Louis Amira carried the Crimson to a number of impressive finishes.

At the McLaughlin, the first tournament of the year, Shuman tied for the individual title by shooting two under par over 54 holes at the Bethpage Red Course, and Harvard claimed fifth place.

Shuman played in every tournament this year, a fitting finish for an individual who has played the most rounds in Crimson history with 80.5. Shuman also ends his tenure with the lowest career scoring average at 74.73 shots per round, or 3.96 strokes over par.

“Greg’s impact can’t be overstated—he’s truly led Harvard golf,” Pollak said. “He’s been our No. 1 player the last four years...He’s an awesome kid and an awesome player.”

Right behind Shuman in the record books is Mayer, who is third all-time in rounds played with 73.5 and fourth in scoring average at 76.57, or 5.84 strokes over par. Mayer also competed in every tournament this year, saving his best for last by finishing 23rd at the Ivy Championships at the Baltusrol Golf Club.

“Danny was wonderful. He was a great captain,” Grillo said. “I think he was a little disappointed that he wasn’t able to win an Ivy League championship during his four years.”

Along with experienced seniors, the team also featured a pair of up-and-comers. Coming off a strong freshman campaign, Pollak picked up where he left off, earning second-team All-Ivy honors and finishing second on the squad in scoring average. Pollak’s fourth-place finish at the Princeton Invitational helped Harvard tie for first place in the tournament—its best finish of the year—though it lost the tiebreaker to Yale.

“He goes after it,” Grillo said of his classmate. “It’s really fun to watch. He’s one of the most natural, fluid golfers I’ve ever met.”

The consistent play of Grillo provided the Crimson with another boon. The sophomore—the recipient of the 2010 Alex Vik ’78 MVP Award—led the team in scoring average with 73.28 strokes per round, or 3.00 shots over par. Grillo’s best individual finish in a tournament was sixth place at the Ivy Championships, which earned him second-team All-Ivy honors.

“[Grillo is] the hardest working, most focused player on our team,” Pollak said. “No one is going to work harder to improve their game in the offseason.”

Harvard had solid performances throughout the spring. Aside from the Princeton Invitational and Ivy Championships, the Crimson garnered a pair of third-place finishes at the Yale Invitational and the Caves Valley Invitational.

As the team moves forward it will lose not only Shuman and Mayer, but also seniors Peter Singh and Nick Moseley, who have been valuable contributors to the program over the course of their careers.

“Danny and Greg may have been the two [seniors] playing for our team, but Nick Moseley and Peter Singh were also really a big part of our team,” Grillo said. “They really helped us, even though their scores may have not been out there because they weren’t always traveling.”

Although it loses an accomplished senior class, a crop of talented recruits will allow the Crimson to compete for the Ivy title once again.

“We’re supposed to have some very strong recruits come in,” Pollak said. “They’re going to do a lot of good next year for us. And I think we’re going to be in just as good a position as we were in this year, maybe even better, going into next year.”

—Staff writer Timothy J. Walsh can be reached at tjwalsh@fas.harvard.edu.