UCLA men’s golf coach O.D. Vincent wanted more consistency
from his starting lineup entering the MacKenzie
Invitational. What he received was a consummate team
effort.
The No. 1 men’s golf team took advantage of the mild
Northern California weather and the unimposing length of the Meadow
Club to shoot some low scores in the tournament’s first two
rounds Monday.
The Bruins compiled a first-round total of 4-under-par on the
par-71, 6,585-yard course, landing them in fifth place by
morning’s end. UCLA returned with a vengeance in the
afternoon round, firing a team total of 10-under-par to jump into
second place entering today’s third and final round.
“We had a very good day,” Vincent said. “It
was probably the best team effort I’ve seen since I’ve
been at UCLA.”
To the surprise of competing head coaches and players,
tournament underdog Northwestern played spectacularly en route to a
22-under-par total over the first two rounds. Northwestern
leads the Bruins by eight shots going into the third round.
UCLA senior Steve Conway had his best showing of the season,
posting scores of 67 and 65 to take the individual lead in the
tournament at 10-under-par.
“(My rounds) were great,” Conway said. “I had
no bogies, which was pretty rare. I don’t think I’ve
ever done that over 36 holes.”
Conway starts today with a three-shot lead over
Northwestern’s Tom Johnson.
Senior Travis Johnson was the other Bruin to finish
Monday’s rounds in red figures, firing a 4-under-par 67 and
an even-par 71.
Senior John Merrick, who struggled in the first round en route
to a 4-over-par 75, came back courageously in the second round with
a 3-under-par 68 to finish the day at 1-over-par.
Senior Roy Moon is also at 1-over-par after rounds of 73 and
70.
Junior John Poucher, who already has an individual tournament
victory to his name this year, shot 73 and 71 in his first two
rounds, finishing at 2-over-par.
Vincent’s strategy for a comeback victory in the final
round is simple:Â Don’t change a thing.
“We need to do the same thing we did today,” Vincent
said. “Because the guys hung in there in the end, we should
have a good shot (today).”