This weekend, the Penn men's and women's golf get one last shot before the snow hits, and a victory would help the Quakers get through a cold winter.
Penn's men host the Big 5 Invitational tomorrow and Sunday, while the ladies head to Rutgers for the final match of the fall season.
Golf's primary season is in the spring, but fall matches also contribute to NCAA rankings that control four at-large tournament bids. And after a strong start this year, the men's team will be in the running for a NCAA Tournament invitation.
"With two second-places finishes and a strong outing at St. John's, we are in position for a good ranking," men's coach Rob Powelson said.
Of course, the bid would be moot if the Quakers could improve on their fourth-place finish and win the league crown in the spring, which would come with an automatic entry to the NCAA Tournament.
The team's ranking will hinge on a strong performance on its home course. Penn should contend among favorites Penn State, George Washington and defending champion Richmond. Cornell and UC Riverside are the two newcomers to the 16-team field.
In previous seasons, the men have struggled at home.
"We tend to get complacent on our home course," Powelson said. "But practice has been very focused this week, and the team is ready.
Powelson has had the team practicing all over the course, hoping to familiarize his players with every dog-leg and divot.
Although golf is both a team and individual sport, Penn's focus is clear.
"We ingrain the idea of a team within our players" Powelson said.
The women have been led by freshmen Lisette Vitter and Meredith Kotowski; the two rookies have been the Quakers' top-two finishers in both tournaments this year. While the women have seen production from the freshmen, the men have leaned on senior captain Sean Barrett, who took second in the MacDonald Cup. The men have also gotten nice contributions from junior Dean Merrill and highly touted freshman Chance Pipitone.
These tournaments will be a final test for both teams before they move indoors and start preparing for the Ivy League season, which gets underway in March.
