The Bates College golf team enters the 2001 season in a rebuilding phase. The Bobcats, who moved to a new home course in 2000, were unable to duplicate the success of their 1999 campaign, when they won the CBB title for the first time in three seasons. The team had several bright spots, however. Bates placed three of the top six performers at the CBB meet, led by rookie Andy Kadin '04's third-place finish. Junior Doug Aho '03 fared well in his first NESCAC tournament, placing 12th overall. Classmate Melissa Wilcox '03, who finished fourth at the inaugural NESCAC women's championship in 1999, will be a key factor in the first full Bates women's team that is slated to begin competing in 2002. Practice begins within a week after the opening of school, with the first match as early as the first weekend of the fall. Bates plays a challenging schedule of 10 to 12 matches each year against NESCAC rivals, as well as schools outside the conference, such as Husson College and the University of Southern Maine. The 2001-02 campaign will see the Bobcats' first significant spring season ever. Home matches are held at Fairlawn Golf Club in nearby Poland, a 6,000-yard par-72 course.
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