The UCLA men’s golf team is experimenting with younger players, trying to minimize rookie mistakes before the spring season, when all competitions lead up to the NCAA championships.
On Oct. 6, the Bruins could not relive a victorious moment that they enjoyed last season at Erin Hills Intercollegiate – except senior Jonathan Garrick. While Garrick won the tournament by two shots with an overall score of 10-under par, the team placed third behind SMU and Oklahoma State.
Prior to Erin Hills, the Bruins finished at third at Northern Intercollegiate on Sept. 13 behind Illinois and Purdue. Although UCLA was only two places short, the Illinois had a team score of 7-under par whereas the Bruins had 22-over par, a significant score difference.
The problems for the team were “young mistakes,” according to coach Derek Freeman.
“We need to do a better job of making better decisions in the golf course, and that’s going to immediately affect our scores,” Freeman said.
Garrick, UCLA’s top scorer, said that he looks at each tournament and studies the course to apply to the next tournament.
“If I just work on the weaknesses from every tournament I had, I’m always going to be better in my next tournament, having a better chance to win,” Garrick said.
Aside from winning the tournament, Freeman uses this time of the season to experiment with the players and let the younger players get some playing time.
“It’s a chance for us to look at our young players and see where they are and it allows us over a longer period of time to address any weaknesses or things that we need to take care of,” Freeman said.
Freshman Patrick Murphy, who placed in the top 10 in the first tournament, got to learn and experience his own style of play and its different effects.
“The biggest transition in college golf is that we are starting to play much more difficult golf courses. My style of play could be toned back a little bit because you are penalized more for small things where easier golf courses, you can play much more aggressively and you don’t get in trouble as often,” Murphy said.
The Bruins will play next in Alpharetta, Georgia at United States Collegiate Championships from Oct. 16-18.