Four members of the UCLA men’s golf team made the trip to Goodyear, Ariz. for the Snowman Getaway, held this past Monday and Tuesday.
However, the four Bruins were not playing for the blue and gold.
Competing as individuals rather than as part of a team, sophomore Matt Pinizzotto and freshmen Lorens Chan, Reilly McMahon and Aaron Kunitomo faced the grueling task of completing three rounds in two days, all by themselves.
Without the benefit of teammates to compensate for any of their mistakes, all of the pressure to compete fell squarely on each of their shoulders.
Pinizzotto held his own the most in a competition that came after his second-place finish at the Cal State San Marcos Invitational earlier this month.
The sophomore finished in a tie for 30th with a score of 220 (+4) for the tournament.
Pinizzotto got off to a hot start by shooting a 71 (-1), joining Chan, who finished tied for 50th with a score of 224 (+8), as one of just two Bruins to play a round under par in the tournament.
Both of those scores occurred in the first round.
As scores showed, the condensed format took a toll on the UCLA golfers as the tournament wore on.
McMahon, who finished tied for 55th with a score of 225 (+9) for the tournament, also carded his best score of the week in the opening round when he shot a 73 (+1).
Kunitomo was the only player able to shake this trend, improving on his first round score in both of his successive rounds to finish tied for 80th with a score of 237 (+21).
The Bruins will now prepare to head north for the Bandon Dunes Championship at Old Macdonald Golf Links in Bandon, Ore. on March 8th.
Compiled by Adam Colman, Bruin Sports contributor.