WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — What can the Williams College men's golf team do for an encore?
Last spring, the Ephs claimed their 14th NESCAC title — most in the conference — while being anchored by a pair of underclassmen. That strong youthful presence certainly bodes well for the team as it opens up the 2026-27 season this weekend at the Duke Nelson Invitational hosted by Middlebury College. But head coach Josh Hillman, the 2026 NESCAC Coach of the Year, remains cautiously optimistic.
"There is no question that we want to build upon our success from last season," Hillman stated. "While we did graduate a great senior in Will Rich, we also have loaded up with a couple of first-years. After a really good summer during which the seniors played a ton of golf, we should be contending for one of the top spots in the league."
Senior captains Alex Moller and Owen Nielsen will provide leadership for the team, along with some pretty solid golf. Moller is a three-time All-NESCAC Second Team performer, even with missing the fall portion of the schedule last year while studying abroad. But in the spring, he improved his stroke average to 74.45 over 11 rounds, including an 11th-place showing at the conference championship and Williams' best score at the NCAA Championship.
Like Moller, Nielsen also was abroad for the fall, yet returned to contribute to the title run by claiming fifth at the NESCAC Championship. The native of Edina, Minnesota, went on to provide the team's second-lowest score at the national championship and finished the year with a stroke average of 75.89.
Sophomore Nick Smith not only was the NESCAC Golfer and Rookie of the Year last spring after winning medalist honors at the conference championship, he was also chosen for the Division III PING All-Region Team. As a first-year, he won a pair of tournaments, finished in the top 10 four times, sank 48 birdies and posted a stroke average of 74.00 with a low round at 6-under par in the second round of the home fall invitational. That kind of performance, which left him ranked 10th regionally, will go a long way toward the Ephs accomplishing their goals this year.
"Nick was an absolute delight last year," Hillman said. "But experience and maturity help in the big moments, knowing when to be aggressive. Our discipline last year was really helpful to our success, and now I feel we are truly an experienced tournament team."
Much like Moller and Nielsen spent last fall studying abroad, so are juniors Jack Estrella and Hunter Justice. Estrella was Williams' most consistent performer last year, producing the team's low stroke average (72.95) with an Eph-best 62 birdies over 22 rounds to be ranked seventh regionally. Deservedly joining Smith on the All-NESCAC First Team and Division III PING All-Region Team, Estrella was among the top 10 in seven tournaments, including runner-up to his teammate at the NESCAC Championship.
Justice, meanwhile, sported a 75.40 stroke average and finished as high as third at a tournament last year, draining 29 birdies (third on the squad) over 15 rounds. With two other top-25 showings in his seven tournaments, Justice's experience will be missed during the fall.
Without those two available, the competition for the starting five this fall will be fierce. Sophomore Owen Barber saw the most action as a rookie, teeing it up for seven tournaments while recording a 76.67 stroke average. All but two of his 15 rounds were in the 70s as he sank 23 birdies, and he tied for the team's low score at the Ekwanok Sap Bucket Challenge with a 2-over 72.
Senior Peter Aznar Klein and sophomore Ayden Aly Ajani will vie for time as well, displaying how they improved their respective games over the summer. And with decorated recruits Ian Kim and Charles Nevin joining the team this year, the Ephs will have eight players vying for time. "Everybody will have an opportunity to get into the mix, and reps are important in golf," Hillman noted. "We use the fall to get mentally prepared for the spring. We want to compete in every tournament, but those reps are really important."
Hillman knows his squad is in for a dogfight with the talent spread across the NESCAC. "Amherst, Tufts, Bowdoin, Trinity, they'll all be right there with us. Hamilton came in third at the conference championship, and even though they lost some key players to graduation, you can't count them out either."
The first round of the Duke Nelson Invitational at Ralph Myhre Golf Course tees off on Saturday at 11 a.m. with the second round on Sunday starting at 9 a.m. Live scoring will be available for both rounds.
