Freshman James Pleat Named Dartmouth Male Athlete of the Week

HANOVER, N.H. —In just his second collegiate tournament, freshman James Pleat won medalist honors at the Dartmouth Invitational this past weekend to earn his selection as the Dartmouth Male Athlete of the Week.

His two-day score of 139 (-3) tied him for the lead before he calmly sank a par putt on the first playoff hole to win the tournament. Pleat was one of five players to score an eagle in the two rounds, and he also sank seven birdies in the two rounds. In the first five rounds of his career, Pleat has carded nothing worse than a 73.

Set the scene for the final hole and what you needed to do to force the playoff, then how that playoff hole played out.

On the last hole, I hit my tee shot pretty good in the fairway, then I found out Peter (Williamson) just chipped in for eagle in the group ahead of me, putting us up three strokes. My approach was a little right, but it was OK. I had to hit a flop shot uphill over a bunker, so all I wanted to do was get it on the green and one-putt or two-putt and we should have the trophy. I did what I was trying to do and left it about eight feet from the hole. But before my putt Coach Parker told me I needed to sink it to tie for the individual lead. Knowing that, I took some extra reads on the putt, and luckily it broke the way I read it. It was great having all my teammates cheering.

On the playoff hole, I got on the green in two while the other guy was off the green. I missed a seven-foot birdie putt trying to put it away, but sank the par putt. He had a shot to tie with a six-footer, but he missed it.

Freshmen aren't supposed to win their second collegiate tournament. To what do you attribute your early success?

Practice, especially with the team and Coach Parker who have all been helpful on how to play at Hanover, which is a bit of a tricky course. When I first started playing there, I wasn't shooting great scores. Coach has given a couple pointers on my swing, and my father has always been one of my teachers.

The weather on Sunday was somewhat miserable. How do you mentally and physically prepare yourself for playing in less than ideal conditions?

Mentally, you have to take out really low numbers. You figure most people will shoot higher than normal, so you lower your expectations. Physically, simply keep your clubs dry and make the best swings you can with all the stuff you are wearing.

Being from New Hampshire could explain how you ended up at Dartmouth, but how did you decide to come here?

I was looking for good academic school combined with a good golf program. It came down to Davidson and Dartmouth, and I felt Coach Parker really wanted me to come here. It's nice to be about an hour and a half from home, which is far enough to be on my own, but close enough to visit when I want.

You've been very consistent in your scoring in the first five rounds you've played, shooting no worse than a 73. What can you do to improve your game even more?

My putting and short game so far have been the best part of my game, which hasn't usually been the case. I am now looking to hit it more consistently off the tee and in the fairways.

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