Bruins prime for NCAAs against loaded field
W. golf shooting for conference title at Oregon Pac-10s
By Hye Kwon
Daily Bruin Staff
The fifth-ranked UCLA women’s golf team is in day two at the
Pac-10 Championships at Trysting Tree Country Club in Corvallis,
Ore. The Bruins are hoping to use the three-day tournament as a
spark to ignite their run for the national title.
Having virtually assured themselves one of 11 spots at the
upcoming NCAA Western Regionals, the Bruins are poised to capture
their first conference title since the 1990-91 season. But to do
that, UCLA must prove itself against some of the best teams in the
nation, many of which happen to be in the Pac-10.
Gauging the level of competition at Corvallis, the Bruins are
ranked fifth in the nation, but ranked only third in the
tournament. No. 1 Arizona State and No. 2 Stanford are both present
at the Trysting Tree Country Club.
Concerning the course conditions, UCLA head coach Jackie
Tobian-Steinmann does not foresee any unusual adversities. Earlier
this season, UCLA finished second at the Nike Northwest
Invitationals, which were held at the par-72, 5,985-yard Trysting
Tree.
"The course is pretty much an open course except for a few
holes," Tobian-Steinmann said. "It’s not really a difficult
course."
The Bruin team started the year as one of the nation’s elites
and has remained there all season long. UCLA has finished in the
top 10 in every tournament it has entered, and with junior Kathy
Choi peaking right now, the team has a good chance to upset ASU and
Stanford to win the conference title.
"Kathy is really playing right now," Tobian-Steinmann said. "She
has been coming on of late."
Choi has been UCLA’s top finisher in the last two tournaments.
She finished seventh at the Arizona State Invitational and fifth at
the California Collegiate. As a result, Choi has steadily moved up
to the 47th place in the national individual rankings. Fellow Bruin
Jennifer Choi is ranked at 33rd place and Jeong Min Park sits at
34th place.
"We’re a very consistent team," Tobian-Steinmann said. "If one
player does well, then the whole team seems to do well."
With a month left before the NCAA Championship Tournament begins
in Wilmington, Del., Tobian-Steinmann will be looking for some
added determination in the eyes of the Bruins.
"We’re a good team but we need to have a little fire in our eyes
to get to another level," Steinmann said. "If all five players play
their individual best, then we can even win the national
championships."