Harvard golf has always left something to be desired.

Finishing in the middle of the pack has been commonplace for both the men's and women's teams, but this past season may have signaled a change, at least for the male side of the draw.

While the women struggled once again to build a baby program, the men took huge strides in building their team to the level of a regional contender.

Gonzalez, Freshmen Lead Men's Charge

For the first time in recent memory, the men's golf team was able to effectively mix its youth and experience to create a semblance of a competitive program.

Not only did the team nab a first-place finish at the Greater Boston Championships in April, but Gonzalez stole the show at the Ivy League Golf Championships three days earlier by nabbing the Individual Medal with a two-day, three-over-par 73 performance.

After last season, in which match in and match out the fate of the team rested solely on the shoulders of Luis Sanchez '97--the eighth-best collegiate golfer in New England--Harvard was looking to construct a more balanced attack and move itself into the upper echelon of regional golf powers.

With the help of a strong core of freshman and a breakout season for Gonzalez, the Crimson uncovered what had been an elusive antidote to the team's recent struggles.

"This year has been really exciting, especiallyfor someone who has been around when the teamhasn't had a clear focus," said junior DougMacBean. "Now everyone takes it every seriouslyand everyone knows that we are a legitimatecontender for the Ivies."

From the first moment the four freshmen steppedfoot onto the team's home course in Brookline thisfall, the esprit de corps was undeniable.

"We didn't really know how much depth we wouldhave for this year," said co-captain Andy Rourke."We were hurting for some young talent and wedidn't know who exactly would come out for theteam. But after the first day, [the freshmen]showed that they could really compete."

Although Harvard finished fifth, sixth and 12thin its only fall tournaments, there were hints ofpotential. After a nightmarish first day at theDartmouth Invitational, for instance, Harvarderupted in the next round with score of 296, withevery Crimson golfer breaking the 80-stroke mark.That second-day surge boosted Harvard to onlythree points behind league-foe Dartmouth and intoa respectable fifth place in the 12-team field.

Once again at the Toski Invitational, Gonzalez,who shot a team-high 73 second-round score atDartmouth, led the way with a two-day total of 152en route to the team's sixth-place finish.Freshman Tim Deardourff also turned some heads byshooting a solid 155 (77-78).

"There is really no limit--we have the playerswe need," said freshman Matt Dost, who shot ateam-best 147 at the Dartmouth Tournament. "Thereare more good players [on this team], but it isstill the same idea--you have to shoot good scoresto finish high."

Those fall tournaments were only the beginningfor a team that would make its presence knownduring the all-important spring campaign.

After a rocky start at the Yale Invitational inthe early days of April, where Harvard placed adisappointing 15th out of 20 teams, the Crimsonslowly began piecing together a full package.