The past, present and future of the UCLA women’s golf
program came together last week for the 104th U.S. Women’s
Amateur in Erie, Pa. And in true team fashion, they all left
together, too. Incoming freshman Amie Cochran, recent graduate
Bridget Dwyer and seniors Charlotte Mayorkas and Gina Umeck all
survived the cut following two rounds at the tournament, but each
bowed out Wednesday after losing in the first round of match play.
“I like stroke play,” Mayorkas said. “But match
play is a good way to mix things up. You’re still playing the
course but also playing an opponent and have to focus on
that.” Although it was Dwyer, Mayorkas and Umeck who led the
Bruins to a national championship just a few months ago, Cochran
was the one leading the Bruin pack during the first two rounds in
Erie. Cochran, a Torrance native, led the field after stroke play,
firing a 3-under par 141 over the two days. She was one of only
four golfers to shoot under par and finish 10 shots ahead of Umeck,
the second-highest Bruin in the field. “(Cochran) has great
determination, and golf is definitely in her future,”
Mayorkas said, adding that she thought Cochran would have an
immediate impact in the Bruins’ lineup next season start. Yet
Cochran’s score became irrelevant the very next day when she
lost 1-up to Hsiao-Ching Lu of Chinese Taipei. Lu barely squeaked
her way into the match play round after tying for 64th in stroke
play, but it was Cochran who had to play from behind early on.
Although she erased Lu’s 2-up lead after five holes and went
ahead after the 13th hole, Cochran’s costly bogey on the 17th
hole enabled Lu to regain the lead for good. Mayorkas, Umeck and
Dwyer did not fare any better in their match play rounds. Mayorkas,
coming off her first LPGA event the weekend before, did not have
the luxury of practicing on the course leading up to the
tournament. “It was a little hard, not seeing the course
ahead of time,” Mayorkas said. “The greens were a
little tricky.” Mayorkas bogeyed the 18th hole and lost 1-up
to Niloufar Aazam-Zanganeh of Switzerland. Despite being 3-up
through 10 holes, Mayorkas was overtaken by Aazam-Zanganeh’s
birdies on the 11th, 13th and 18th holes to complete the comeback.
Meanwhile, Umeck fell 4-and- 2 to fellow American Brianna
Broderick, and Dwyer fell to Spain’s Tania Elosegui 2-and-1.
Dwyer, whose father grew up in Erie, opted to delay starting her
professional career until after the event. Her final tournament as
an amateur may not have ended with a trophy celebration like her
last collegiate tournament did, but Dwyer acknowledged before the
tournament that she would enjoy the experience regardless of her
individual finish. With Dwyer’s graduation and move to the
pro circuit, the Bruins will look to a fresh face to fill her
shoes. Judging from Cochran’s efforts in Erie, that face may
already be there with them.
MEN’S GOLF: While the Bruin women were on
the other side of country, five of the men were teeing off in the
Pacific Northwest in Eugene, Ore., at the Pacific Coast Amateur.
Junior John Poucher posted the lowest score among the five,
finishing in a tie for 20th with a 6-over 290. Recent graduate Roy
Moon finished one stroke behind him, as incoming freshman Kevin
Chappell shot a 10-over 294 to finish tied for 30th. Sophomore
Chris Heintz and incoming freshman Daniel Im shot 301 and 302,
respectively, at the four-day tournament. “¦ Matt Marshall has
signed a national letter of intent with UCLA, the athletic
department announced last week. Marshall, a two-time All-Santa
Clara Valley League selection from Saratoga High School, is the
fifth recruit joining the Bruins’ roster next season.