It’s the middle of midterms season, and instead of spending nights in a UCLA library, men’s golf will be juggling rounds of golf in Hawaii and nights studying in a hotel room.
UCLA men’s golf plays its second tournament of the winter season in Hilo, Hawaii, in defense of last year’s win.
For sophomore Lorens Chan, he will be right at home – or, at least, near it.
“I’m from Oahu. We are going to the big island, but, I mean, I still consider it home, I guess,” Chan said. “My parents are going to come down and watch the tournament.”
Like for Chan, the Amer Ari Invitational will mark sophomore Jonathan Garrick’s first time playing collegiate golf in four months.
“I’ve been playing a lot over break. It will be my first tournament, but hopefully there won’t be any trouble transitioning,” Garrick said.
For the No. 15 Bruins, there won’t be any time to waste getting back into the game. The Amer Ari Invitational attracts some of the greatest talent from across the country and begins Thursday, running through Saturday.
This year, UCLA will be competing against No. 2 Georgia Tech and No. 4 Oklahoma State, as well as No. 9 Stanford and No. 14 Washington from the Pac-12.
“We expect to win. We know we’re good enough to win,” Garrick said. “But it is a really strong field and it’s not going to come easy.”
Coach Derek Freeman’s lineup will also include junior Jay Hwang, junior Matt Pinizzotto and sophomore Jake Knapp.
Of the five players competing, only Hwang and Chan have made the trip before, so experience may become an issue.
“I think knowing the golf course and knowing that I’ve played it in so many different types of conditions helps,” Chan said. “It will be familiar, and I won’t be too surprised if something weird comes up or something like that. Hopefully I can use that to help my teammates – you know, let them know how the different conditions play on the golf course.”
Compiled by Brandon Dupre, Bruin Sports contributor.