UCSD’s golf squad has been consistently led by three golfers this season, senior Alan Scheer, and juniors Joe Dolby and Brian Duckworth, who have helped the team earn a fourth-place national ranking in Division II. Both Scheer and Duckworth have two first-place finishes on the team so far this season, and Dolby took second place for the team in the first tournament of the year.
Trio: Senior Alan Scheer (top) and juniors Joe Dolby (bottom) and Brian Duckworth (middle have lead the Tritons to a fourth-place national ranking in Division II heading into the winter break. The seson will resume in February.
“”Al, Joe and Brian will travel with us most of the year,”” head coach Mike Wydra said. “”They provide competitive support, and they’re just great guys to have on the team, they make it a lot of fun.””
Scheer, the team captain, is probably the Tritons most accomplished golfer: He is ranked 118th out of golfers in all divisions, and is currently ranked 14th among Division II golfers.
“”Al is getting more comfortable with his swing, and after he had a 68 in his final round at a tournament in UC Davis last year, I predicted he would have a big summer,”” Wydra said. “”Of course I had no idea to what extent he would, as he qualified to compete in the U.S. Amateurs. He is really, really good, and getting better all the time. I just can’t say enough about him.””
If his coach can’t say enough about him, his teammates can.
“”Al is just a great guy to hang out with,”” Dolby said. “”And it’s so nice to have him around because you can count on him to never shoot much higher than 72.””
So far this year, Scheer has an average round score of 72.22, just 4.125 strokes off the No. 1 nationally ranked leader.
“”The U.S. Amateurs was just an amazing experience,”” Scheer said. “”It was a lot of fun, and it’s something I’m looking forward to going after again next summer, and hopefully improving my performance.””
Scheer also has very high hopes for the team.
“”It’s great to see such a level of competition on the team,”” Scheer said. “”This team has high expectations, and we have a good chance to not only make nationals, but also to do very well in them.””
Duckworth, who came off his last tournament tying with Scheer for first on the team, has provided a lot of support as the No. 2 spot on the team.
“”Brian is ungodly long off the tee,”” Wydra said. “”He is learning to manage the course and his game better too, and is figuring out his short game as well. He is becoming a real triple threat.””
Duckworth is also the class clown of the team, always able to provide some comic relief for teammates.
“”Brian makes me laugh more than anyone,”” Dolby said.
Like Scheer, Duckworth was nationally ranked after his second tournament.
“”Having three solid guys with the ability to consistently post low scores forces the rest of the team to compete for the final two spots, and that will make the team better for years to come,”” Scheer said.
Dolby, the third of the Triton’s big three, is by no means a distant third, even managing to come in second place in the first tournament of the season.
“”Joe is very long off the tee, and is becoming a better putter,”” Wydra said. “”He is also very emotional, and can get into streaks when he’s on.””
Dolby’s 65 in his final round of the first tournament of the season is a school record for lowest round ever.
“”I’m really happy with how I’m hitting the ball,”” Dolby said. “”My 65 in the first tournament was a career best, it was really just the best I’ve ever hit the ball, and every part of my game was the best ever.””
Despite missing the team’s most recent tournament, Dolby has still managed to act as a team leader and has provide dependable results for the team, as well as achieve a national ranking his first two tournaments.
“”This season has started with the most consistent golf I’ve ever played,”” Dolby said. “”I’m looking forward to spring season. This is just a taste of things to come and with more practice and more tournaments, who knows what will happen.””
Numbers alone aren’t the only proof of Dolby’s success though; his teammates have noticed it as well.
“”Joe worked very hard over the summer on his game, and the results are obvious,”” Scheer said.
The Tritons will start their season again on Feb. 23 and Feb. 24 when they compete in the Family Motors Invitational in Bakersfield, Calif.
