A slow start doomed UCLA men’s golf at this weekend’s U.S. Collegiate Championship.
The No. 22 Bruins placed 14th out of 17 teams at the invitational, a premier national tournament that included nine of the country’s top-10 teams.
Coming off respectable third-place showings at its two previous tournaments – the Northern Intercollegiate and the Erin Hills Intercollegiate – UCLA had a chance to prove itself as it trekked to Alpharetta, Ga., for the tournament.
But the Bruins quickly fell far behind tournament leaders, barely avoiding last place in the first round with an overall score of 12-over par.
The next day showed only marginal advancement with a one-spot jump from 16th to 15th place. Individual performances by top-scorer senior Jonathan Garrick and freshman Patrick Murphy were markedly bright spots in an otherwise humdrum second round for the Bruins.
Garrick moved up 20 spots with four birdies, recording a score of 4-under par, and Murphy improved five strokes from the previous round’s score of 78.
With a team score of 24-over par, the Bruins continued their hobbled game of catchup to their eventual landing spot. Garrick was the top scorer, with his 2-over par performance producing a tie for 25th place in the individual results.
UCLA will have its shot at redemption when they host the Gifford Collegiate at Carlsbad’s La Costa Golf Course from Nov. 2-4.
Compiled by Julie Song, Bruin Sports contributor.