You’d have to say that a trio of New England golfers put up an emphatic week of collegiate triumphs to dispel the notion that you cannot develop an elite game playing in these cold-winter locales.
From Ben James of Milford, Conn., to a pair of Massachusetts kids – Michael Thorbjornsen of Wellesley and Ethan Whitney of Westminster – it was a series of performances to remember.
Eye-opening of all, perhaps, was what James, the country’s top-ranked junior player, did in his collegiate debut for the University of Virginia. In his first nine holes, he shot 28. That’s right, 28. He continued the mastery with rounds of 63-65-68 – 196 to win the Streamsong Invitational at the Streamsong Resort in Florida by four.
What’s more, James’ performance enabled the Cavaliers to post a seven-stroke win in the team competition. “Pretty much,” laughed Virginia head coach Bowen Sargent, “I’m not sure it could have been a more perfect start to his college career.”
