A busy season began as the golf team finished two tournaments in two days. It competed in the Little Five Tournament on Wednesday, and the Eastern College Athletic Conference Qualifier on Thursday. In Wednesday's match at the Little Five, Brandeis went up against Babson, WPI, MIT and Suffolk. The Judges finished second in this tournament, with a total of 344 points. The winner was WPI with 334 points. This cumulative score represents the most successful combined effort of the golf team to date, with low rounds from Brandeis' Jason Kramer '03 (83), Josh Levine '06 (84), Will Tickle '03 (87) and Nathan Goldman '06 (90). This tournament brought Brandeis into third place in overall Little Five standings. Two more matches will be played to complete the tournament.

On Thursday, the team ventured to Holden Hills Country Club, outside of Worchester, to compete in the ECAC qualifying tournament. It was an ordeal just to get there, as the team got lost due to shoddy directions. The Judges arrived at the course with only minutes to spare before the start of the match, and were left with negligible time to warm up. Nonetheless, the team managed to play a solid golf match.

In particular, none of the adverse circumstances managed to stop Levine, whose low round of 81 set the pace on this cold, wet day in central Massachusetts. In addition to Levine, Tickle and Kramer played impressive matches. The whole team furnished a solid effort, which helped them to remain in contention for the ECAC Tournament championship.

This year's golf team is led by second year coach Bill Shipman, who conducts practices at the Pinebrook Country Club in Weston, Mass. The team practices on a daily basis, with several outings per week to the course. Due to harsh New England weather, the fall season ends with the annual NEIGA tournament on Oct. 21 to 22 in Cape Cod. Competition resumes in the spring with three or four additional matches.

The team is currently working hard to improve on this season's early matches and on individual performances. This year's season is particularly important to Co-captains Tickle and Kramer, who are graduating this spring and who wish to capitalize on their last chance to make a mark on golf at Brandeis. Both say they hope to finish off productive four year careers with championships in the major tournaments. Under their guidance, younger players such as Levine, Jordan Caillarec '06, Nathan Goldman '06 and Noah Rabinsky '06 are not just mere contributors, but are rather potent forces. Nathan Gruner '05 and Gabe Gruner '05, as well as the Dual County League's own Ian Roy '05, round out the roster.

The team certainly has as bright future as it has a young roster.

"The team is a good group of guys, who are constantly improving on their skills," Levine said.