The UCLA men’s golf team is ready to wake their clubs from
winter hibernation and head back out onto the golf
course.Â
After a long, noncompetitive winter break, the team will play in
two tournaments in the next two weeks.
The Bruins are currently in Tucson, Ariz., for the PING-Arizona
Intercollegiate Golf Tournament, held at Arizona National Country
Club.Â
After one round of play the Bruins lead the tournament at
11-under par, holding a three-stroke advantage over host team
Arizona.
UCLA junior Roy Moon is tied for first after shooting a 6-under
65, the best score posted by a Bruin this year. Junior Travis
Johnson is tied for third overall after shooting a 66, one shot
behind the leaders.
John Merrick posted a 1-under 70, and Spencer Levin and Steve
Conway each shot a one-over 72 for the Bruins.
Next week the team travels to Hawaii to compete in the
TaylorMade Big Island Classic at Waikoloa Country Club.
The Bruins, currently ranked No. 17 in national polls, know they
can and should escalate in the rankings before the season is
over.
Under the leadership of first-year Bruin head coach O.D.
Vincent, there has been a change of atmosphere around men’s
golf. Vincent, the 1999 Coach of the Year at Washington, sees
potential in his Bruins.
“What we’re looking for now is to sustain constant
success.” Vincent believes. “Golf is a hard sport to
peak in, but we have to play our best in May and June.”
The team is expected to field a five-man squad consisting of
four juniors and a true freshman for the beginning of its
season.
Golf analysts and current players are raving about freshman
Spencer Levin’s ability and composure on the golf course.
Levin currently leads the team in scoring average (71.2 per
round), rounds under par (seven), and top-10 finishes (three).
“Spencer is the most confident player I’ve ever been
around,” Vincent said in a statement. “He has very
high expectations for himself; he’s very competitive and gets
the most out of his game.”Â
Among the nation’s top golfers, Levin is ranked No. 50.
Considering he has several more years in Westwood, the future looks
bright for UCLA golf.
Accompanying Levin on the road to a championship is a team
comprised of seasoned veterans and leaders including Moon, Conway
and Johnson.Â
Moon has shown the greatest improvement of the season thus far,
tying for second place overall at the MacKenzie Invitational in
October with three stellar sub-70 rounds. Moon is also tied with
Levin for most rounds under 70 (four).
Johnson is second on the team in scoring average, slightly
trailing Levin with 72.1 shots per round. Johnson has placed in the
top-20 in two of three competitions this season.
“Travis is our leader on and off the course,”
Vincent said in a statement. “He is a motivated
individual, both on the golf course and in the classroom. He
is very intent of having a successful final two years at
UCLA.”
Conway has three top-30 finishes in three rounds played,
including a tie for seventh at the Pacific Invitational in
September.Â
The Bruins are hoping consistent play and an emergence of
leadership will lead them to Stillwater, Oklahoma, site of this
year’s NCAA Championship for men’s golf.
But the Bruins have many rounds to play before reaching
Stillwater including those in Hawaii next week and the second round
of the Arizona tournament today.