The UCLA women’s golf team is silently becoming one of the
Bruins’ top sports programs.
Currently ranked No. 18 in the country, the team heads to Hawaii
as one of the favorites to walk away with winning the Hawaii Fall
Invitational held at Kapolei Country Club.
Despite the glamour of Hawaii’s sunny beaches and the
rugged terrain surrounding the golf course, assistant coach Amanda
Carmichael is confident that the women will be able to focus on
their game when they step up to the first tee.
“The Hawaii course is no different than any other course
out there,” Carmichael said.
The team will rely on redshirt junior and Hawaii native Bridget
Dwyer for local knowledge of the Kapolei course.
“It’s great to be home,” Dwyer said. “We
just enjoy the beauty of Hawaii, it keeps you in a happier mood on
the course.”
Head coach Carrie Leary is hoping the “happier mood”
will result in a first place finish for the Bruins. In addition to
Dwyer, other Bruins have had experience on the Kapolei course.
“Saki Uechi led the tournament after the first round as a
freshman, so I expect big things out of her and the team,”
Leary said.
Only five golfers are allowed to travel to the island paradise,
and with ten golfers competing for a spot in every match, the
pressure is on each time they step on the course.
While golf is noted for being an individual sport, nothing can
be farther from the truth in the Bruins’ case. Plaudits,
words of support and even a Tiger Woods fist pump are on display
when these women take the course in an attempt to spread positive
energy from one golfer to another.
“This is a really unique team, they’re all really in
support of each other and they are friends outside of golf,”
Carmichael said.
In the recently completed Stanford Pepsi Invitational, the
Bruins finished with a combined score of 905 and settled for a
sixth place finish despite leading the tournament after the first
of three rounds.
“Sixth place is disappointing for our team,”
Carmichael said.
Gina Umeck and Uechi played solidly all three rounds, placing
12th and 17th, respectively.
Umeck and Yvonne Choe have been the most consistent players so
far this season: The two have qualified for all three matches this
year.
“Golf for ladies has become so much more competitive in
the last five years,” Carmichael said. “A 77 is no
longer a top score.”
To put that in perspective, Tiger Woods shot an 81 at this
year’s British Open, and 105 PGA professionals have had
rounds of 80 or higher this year, and they have caddies who carry
their bags and massage their feet.
The future is looking bright for the Bruins ““ with the
exception of lone senior Vivian Phosomran, most of the nucleus of
the team will be intact for years to come. However, the golfers
expect big things out of themselves now.
“We haven’t performed as well as we’ve liked
to, but we’re a really good team, and it’s just a
matter of time before we put it together,” Carmichael
said.
When they put it together, expect the Bruins to gather around in
May on the 18th green with an NCAA championship trophy in their
hands.
“With this team, we’re always expecting to walk away
winners,” Dwyer said.