Drive for show, putt for dough.
For UCLA two-time All-American senior golfer Erik Flores, this old golf maxim rings true.
On Monday, Flores takes on a tough field of collegiate golfers at the Western Refining College All-America Golf Classic in El Paso, Texas. The tournament is an invite-only event for golfers named to the All-American teams last season. In preparation for the showcase event, Flores worked almost exclusively on his short game and putting because he knows that that is what will win him tournaments this season.
“It’s a short course,” Flores said. “Wedging and putting is how to score.”
Flores was one of the top performers last year on a Bruin team that won its second national championship in UCLA golf history. He finished the year with a 72.5 scoring average and a tournament win at the Cal State Bakersfield Spring Invitational in February. He also had five other top-10 finishes on the year.
Flores hopes to finish up the fall preseason with a strong showing this week in El Paso to gather momentum heading into a long break until the next tournament. UCLA’s next team event isn’t until February.
After being named an All-American his freshman year by the Golf Coaches Association of America, Flores competed in this event in his sophomore year. He finished at even par, which was good enough for 19th place. The winner of the tournament that year posted a score of 18-under par, so Flores knows he needs to be on top of his game to have a shot at winning. “It’s a birdie contest,” Flores said. “Scores will all be pretty low.”
Flores is playing under second-year coach Derek Freeman. Freeman quickly brought success to the program, winning a national championship in his first year as coach last year. Flores loves the passion that Freeman brings to the team and the way that he teaches young players how to focus.
Flores and teammate James Lee are the team’s lone seniors. The other seven team members are sophomores and freshmen.
Because the Bruins lost Player of the Year Kevin Chappell to graduation, Flores is looking to step up and lead the young Bruin team.
“I try to lead by example,” Flores said. “I try to be there early, do the little things to show the freshmen what UCLA is all about.”
UCLA signs three recruits
Coach Derek Freeman announced last week that three new recruits have signed with the UCLA men’s golf team. Mario Clemens, Bobby Lange and Pontus Widegren make up the incoming class for 2009.
Widegren is an international talent from Sweden, and is currently ranked sixth by the American Junior Golf Association and 119th in the world. Last summer, he tied for fifth in The Junior Players Championship. Clemens, a local golfer from Beverly Hills High School, was recently named to the AJGA Rolex All-America Team. He finished second in the Las Vegas Junior in June, posting a score of 4-under par. Lange, out of Harvard-Westlake, won the U.S. Junior Amateur qualifier with a score of 9-under par.