M. Golf heads hopes for Regional NCAA bid

In order to do so, the Quakers will need to come out on top at this weekend's Ivy Champs. This year, there are two ways the Penn's men's golf team could qualify for the NCAA regional golf tournament. Either finish in the top four out of their 50-team district, which is too late to happen, or win this weekend at the Ivy League Championship at Metedeconk National Golf Course. According to Penn golf coach Francis Vaughn, his Quakers will face an uphill battle -- with themselves. "Our biggest threat is ourselves," Vaughn said. "We have to play within ourselves. We have to play our own game and not worry about any other team." According to Vaughn, "Ivy League golf has seen much more parity among its teams in the last few years." At the Ivy League Championship last year, four teams broke 900, an average score of 75 per player. The Quakers will play 36 holes on Saturday and the deciding 18 holes on Sunday. This year, two freshmen will represent the squad at the tourney. Freshman standout Chad Perman will team with freshman Endel Liias to comprise the freshman contingent. "The last time I played two freshmen," Vaughn said, "we won." Rounding out the starting five are three-time All-Ivy selection and senior captain Rob Goldfaden, All-Ivy junior Kyle Moran and junior Todd Golditch. Hopefully for the Quakers, Vaughn has found the right mix of youth and experience. "Each of the players has the ability to play well and to find themselves in the winner's circle," Vaughn said. If the Quakers were to win this weekend, they could attribute their victory to their hard work throughout the season. "We've worked very diligently to prepare for this weekend," Vaughn said. "It has been our focus." According to Perman, the key to a Quakers win is patience and few mistakes. "It is so important to play smart golf and to limit dumb mistakes," Perman said. A personal key for Perman is a quick start in the first round on Saturday. "A good start will make it easier for me," Perman said. "It would certainly put me in a good frame of mind, a good flow." If the Quakers hope to be victorious this weekend, they will have to defeat defending champion Columbia, as well as 23-time NCAA Division I national champion Yale. The Elis' most recent NCAA title, however, came in 1943. Princeton, a 13-time NCAA Division 1 champion, will also pose a challenge. For the Quakers to reach the NCAA East Regional Tournament, they must go through Metedeconk National Golf Course. "You can't go to second base without touching first," Vaughn said.

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