As the quarter begins to wind down later this month, the No. 3 UCLA men’s golf team expects to be in full swing.
Barring an unlikely turn of events, UCLA will finish its season at Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles, which will play host to the NCAA Championship.
Although the Bruins still have to overcome the hurdle of the NCAA regionals beforehand, they anticipate they will be competing for a title at home in the coming weeks.
“I believe we’ll make it to nationals and the pressure will come more from nationals than the regionals,” freshman Jay Hwang said. “Everyone on the team knows, and is very confident, that we will make it to nationals.”
This confidence has manifested itself in the team’s foresight to practice on the course while they still can.
“(Monday), we just played a round of golf. Playing there is going to be big just to get familiar and more comfortable with the golf course,” said senior Alex Kim, who estimates the team has played at Riviera 12 times this year. “It’s going to be a huge advantage … knowing the breaks, especially the greens at Riviera because they’re tricky.”
Upon their return from regionals, the Bruins will have to wait until the practice rounds of the NCAA Championship to step on the Riviera course again.
Championship detour
If the Bruins are to compete at Riviera later this month, they will be traveling there via Bowling Green, Ky.
The team was awarded the top seed in the NCAA Central Regional.
UCLA needs to finish in the top five at The Club at Olde Stone in order to move onto stroke play of the NCAAs at the Riviera.
First time for everything
Since qualifying for the Farmers Insurance Open in January, Hwang has become a staple of the Bruins’ traveling squad.
Much of Hwang’s recent success can be attributed to finally adapting to the demands of college golf.
“When you have those outside pressures fall away, then it’s just golf,” coach Derek Freeman said. “It’s no different than playing with your buddies back home, or in high school or on the PGA tour ““ the game is still the same.”
While the coaches haven’t yet finalized the team that will be representing UCLA in the NCAA regional round next weekend, Hwang’s progression and performance of late makes his presence in Kentucky likely.
Whether Hwang’s place in the lineup is secure or not, he will continue to work on improving his deficiencies in preparation for the tournament ““ specifically his mental approach on the course.
“(I have been) trying to play with a better feeling on the golf course,” Hwang said. “If I can score well even when I don’t feel well, that will help get better results in the coming tournaments.”