Although Anton Arboleda is one of the top golfers on the nationally ranked UCLA team, he’s grown up playing public courses like most other amateur golfers.
Two weeks ago, the rising junior finished up play at the U.S. Amateur Public Links, a prominent tournament at Soldier Hollow Golf Course in Midway, Utah in which he squared off against fellow amateurs that don’t call a private country club home.
Arboleda made it to the round of 16, just three rounds from the final match at the event, a staggering six-day tournament that included rounds of both stroke play and match play.
The USAPL, the second-largest amateur event in the country, is restricted to amateurs who don’t have access to the elite facilities provided by private country clubs. This levels the playing field in the competition for an amateur title and entrance to the Masters, which is given to the winner of the tournament.
“It’s like a working man’s amateur,” Arboleda said.
“It gives the guys who don’t have the same amenities and privileges as those who belong to country clubs (a chance) to play in the Masters and win a (United States Golf Association) Championship.”
The course made this year’s USAPL particularly difficult for competitors.
It was situated at more than 5,000 feet above sea level and designed to test the endurance of the golfers walking it.
Holes are placed alongside a mountain, switching back-and-forth from going uphill to going downhill, so it forces golfers to hike up and down the side of the mountain, Arboleda said.
Arboleda’s dad caddied for him, which made trekking the course more bearable.
“My dad was on the bag for me, which was fun because he only gets to watch me play a handful of times throughout the year,” Arboleda said. “I really liked having him on the bag and being there.”
Although Arboleda was unable to capture a victory in Utah, the UCLA men’s golf coaching staff sees the event as a necessary building block in his development.
“Competition is really the ultimate proving ground. You can only do so much in practice,” coach Derek Freeman said. “It’s a different feeling. You just can’t mimic tournament pressure … that’s why playing in competition is so critical.”
Speaking of building blocks
Arboleda wasn’t the only Bruin that competed at the USAPL two weeks ago ““ he was just the only one who has experience on the UCLA team.
Highly touted incoming freshman Jacob Knapp also competed in the event, and like his soon-to-be teammate, Knapp also made it to the round of 16 in match play.
“To see him play well and win some matches in match play is exciting,” Freeman said.
“That’s getting good, hard competition and pressure under your belt and the more times you do that, the more success you have.”
Alum also still learning
Alex Kim has been taking steps toward earning a spot on the PGA Tour since graduating in June.
His first official step in that direction came last week when he tied for 24th in the California State Open at Morongo Golf Club at Tukwet Canyon in Beaumont, Kim’s first event as a professional golfer.
“I need to (look back on) the last few rounds and learn more about myself and learn from my mistakes,” Kim said. “It gives me confidence, and it’s a learning experience.”