While Cambridge residents are getting a taste of spring, the Harvard golf team is enjoying its full effects on the balmy Florida fairways. The team left for spring practice in Florida Sunday.

Although many of the golfers are playing golf for the first time this season, coach Cooney Weiland anticipates a good season. "Out team has a very good chance of topping last year's 12-2 record," Weiland said.

The '68 golf team did even better than the record indicates. Playing in the NCAA's for the first time in 28 years, they walked off with 17th place, an outstanding finish for an Eastern team. The golf team was also number one in the East, beating such powerhouses as Yale and Princeton in the Eastern.

The Pressure Is On

The golf team has a good chance of repeating last year's performance since they have all but one of their lettermen returning. The veterans, however, will receive stiff competition from some promising sophomores from last season's Yarling team. "There are 9 of 10 players vying for the top seven positions," said coach Cooney Weiland, "and this keeps the pressure on all of them."

Coach Weiland will not decide this year's roster until the golf team completes their Southern trip. They will play in the Miami Invitational, play a match against a Georgia team, and complete their Southern tour with a difficult match against Navy at Annapolis.

The six returning lettermen are captain Bruce Lo Pucki, Yank Heisler, Barney Oldfield, Jack Purdy, Joe Tibbetts, and tom Wynne. LoPucki, a senior with an 8-4 record last year, has a chance to move into the top position vacated by Bo Keefe, who graduated last June.

Yank Heisler, another strong contender for the top slot, proved to be an excellent match player last year as a sophomore, winning 13 out of 17 matches. Yank will probably be playing higher than his number four position last year. Senior Barney Oldfield finished last season with an 8-5-1 record.

Jack Purdy, who completed his sophomore season with an 11-3-1 record last year, will be fighting for one of the top three positions. Joe Tibbetts surprised many people last spring as a sophomore, with his strong 11-3 record. Tom Wynne, a senior who was a star defensive back and place kicker on the football team, ended last season with a 9 and 5 record.

Several players will be trying to displace these six lettermen, including junior Chris Gurry and sophomores Steve Owen, Bob Crosby, an Dave Jones.