Frigid temperatures and gusting winds did not provide optimal conditions for the golf team as it kicked off its spring season. The Judges, struggling with the cold weather and heavy winds, finished seventh out of 11 teams with a two-day score of 673 at the Babson College Invitational last Sunday and Monday, three days after opening their spring season with a 16th-place finish out of 23 teams at the Lou Flumere Intercollegiate last Thursday.

The Judges were also set to compete at the Rhode Island College Invitational last Friday, but the event was cancelled due to inclement weather.

"The weather wasn't really conducive to low scores, but we probably could have played better than we did," Lee Bloom '09 said.

Salem State College won the Babson Invitational with a two-day score of 631.

Alex Botwick '08 posted the Judges' best score in both the Babson Invitational and the Lou Flumere Intercollegiate. He shot a five-over-par 77 Sunday before slipping to a nine-over-par 81 yesterday. His two-day total of 158 placed him among the top competitors at the event.

"The winning score was 150, so he was in the top six or eight players there," coach Bill Shipman said. "That was pretty impressive."

Botwick closed strong in his round Sunday.

On the 14th hole, Botwick avoided a damaging result by hitting a 50-foot putt, salvaging a bogey on the hole.

The shot proved to be a momentum-changer, as Botwick posted a one-under-par on the last four holes.

"That shot kind of kept me in a good rhythm," Botwick said. "It kept a good round going."

The struggles of the rest of the team relegated the Judges to their seventh-place finish. Charles Sacks '11 shot consecutive rounds of 12-over-par 84 to finish with a two-day total of 168, while Lee Bloom '10 shot an 14-over-par 86 yesterday to go along with his 11-over-par 83 Sunday.

On the sixth hole yesterday, Bloom chipped in a shot for a birdie, but he was unable to duplicate that success in the rest of the round.

"I thought [that shot] would lead to a streak, but instead, things just went downhill from there," Bloom said.

Jeffrey Stein '08 was fourth on the team, shooting an 18-over-par 90 Monday to go along with his 16-over-par 88 Sunday. Aaron Hattenbach '09 rounded out the scoring by shooting a two-day total of 184.

Botwick said the cold weather took its toll as each round progressed.

"[The weather] had a cumulative effect," he said. "Throughout the whole day, having to constantly keep your hands warm and battle the wind wears on you mentally. . It's not like it makes each individual shot harder in itself, [but] it's continually having to fight back against the elements."

Shipman acknowledged the difficulties of the weather, but said he hoped the experience would help the team's fortitude.

"It wasn't just a little chilly, it was cold," Shipman said. "[But] our guys need a little more confidence and a little more mental toughness."

The Judges mostly used a different lineup at the Lou Flumere Intercollegiate, as Botwick was the only member of the team to compete in both events.

Botwick shot an 82 to lead the squad, followed by Alex Podell '08, who posted an 84, and Ralph Harary '09, who fired an 88.

Shipman said Podell's round could have been even better had he been more effective around the greens.

"Podell hit the ball from tee to green as well as he could, but his putting was pathetic, so he didn't have a very good score," Shipman said. "He could have shot a 76 had he putted a little bit better, but that's golf. You have to do everything well."

Daniel Goldsmith '11 and?David Milch '08 were the other two Brandeis players to compete. Goldsmith shot a 92, while?Milch fired a 97.

The Judges compete in the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth Invitational Saturday before the UAA Championships, which will take place Sunday to next Tuesday. Last season, the?Judges placed fifth out of five teams in the UAA?Championships.