M. Golf banking on veterans to lead Penn to title

The Penn men's golf team returns to action this weekend at the James Madison Invitational, confident about the year ahead.

And rightfully so.

Penn golfers posted six top-10 finishes last season, including placing second at the Navy and Lehigh Invitationals, respectively.

Senior co-captains Chad Perman and Peyton Wallace, as well as fellow upperclassmen Endel Liias and Adam Squires, provide "real good leadership qualities and playing experience," said first-year Penn head coach Heath Davidson.

Along with these veterans comes three rookies -- Derek Rogers, Brett Carlson and Scott Squires. Squires is the younger brother of junior Adam.

"The [freshmen] have a lot of talent [and] are tournament-tested," Davidson said.

The past few seasons have been somewhat disappointing for the Quakers, finishing nine shots behind arch-rival Princeton in the Ivy League Championship in three of the last four years.

But this year the Quakers vow will be different.

The team is "diverse in terms of ages, but about even in terms of talent, which makes [them] really deep," Liias said.

But while the new youth talent will play a role in the upcoming season, the defining feature of this year's squad will be Penn's three seniors.

"We have three seniors... which helps out the incoming freshmen," Davidson said.

And although the "jocks," as Liias insisted they be called, are of different ages, they are all "best friends, and the team is really close-knit," he said.

"The most important aspect to team sports is that everyone gets along," Liias said "With us, every minute of practice and tournaments is so much fun."

Following the JMU Invitational, the team will compete in the St. John's Invitational. In previous years, the team also participated in the Navy Invitational, but was unable to this year because of amended Ivy League rules.

That is not to say, however, that the Quakers wasted their extra time. Penn practiced hard during the past two weeks, focusing most critically on the short game.

"We focused on the short game for this practice session," Davidson said. "That's where it's won and lost in the college ranks."

Perman also relished the extra time before the beginning of the season.

"We used to have to start beginning play right away," Perman said. "But this year we have a few extra weeks to practice.

"With the three freshmen that should help us."

With the few extra weeks of practice at their backs, Penn is looking forward to a strong showing in its opening weekend and in the upcoming season.

"We have potential to do well this year," Davidson said.

Liias echoed the words of Penn's first-year headman.

"I think we'll be solid," he said. "I really do. I like our prospects this year."

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