Men’s golf prepares for Pac-10 tourney
By Hye Kwon
Daily Bruin Staff
The slumping UCLA men’s golf team finished with a disappointing
12th place at the U.S. Intercollegiates last weekend, but some good
things came out of the tournament.
The most obvious positive element was the play of Eric Lohman.
After posting up 67 and 68 on the first two days, the junior held a
two-stroke lead on the leader board. Lohman finished the third day
with a mediocre 75, but his performance was good enough to put him
at third place overall.
"It would have been nice to see him win his first tournament,"
UCLA head coach Dave Atchison said. "I think he was a little
nervous on Sunday, but overall I think it was a good learning
experience for him."
Another positive result of the tournament is that the Bruins
might have virtually assured themselves a berth in the NCAA Western
Regionals. The 12th place finish may have been disappointing, but
the Bruins finished ahead of Pac-10 rivals USC and Oregon State.
With the Bruins, the Trojans and the Beavers were contending for
few precious spots in the 18-team field at the Regionals.
* * *
As the Bruins gear toward the Pac-10 Championships which are
only four days away, they are furiously practicing low shots.
Starting May 1, the Pac-10 Champion-ships will be held in Richland,
Wash., known for its high winds. Scouting reports say that it would
not be surprising to encounter 30 to 40 mph winds at the Meadows
Springs Country Club.
"We’ve been advised to bring our wind balls," Atchison said
The Pac-10 Championships is played with a six-man field as
opposed to a regular five-man field. Each team will have to add one
golfer to its regular rotation, which Atchison believes will be
beneficial to the Bruins.
"We have a deep team and it should benefit us," Atchison said.
"One thing’s for sure and that is it’s going to change every team’s
complexion."
The sixth starter for the Bruins at Richland will be Trevor
Arts. The sophomore from Flower Mound, Texas, was a starter earlier
this season but Brian Bock has been starting in his place of late.
Arts finished second on the team with a 74.64 scoring average last
season.
* * *
The Stanford Cardinal, the defending NCAA champions and one of
the favorites to win the Pac-10 title, will be without star Tiger
Woods at Richland. Woods will sit out the tournament to rest his
injured right shoulder. His absence will likely leave the door open
for teams like Arizona State and UCLA to sneak up and make a run
for the conference title.