The UCLA men’s golf team finished a tumultuous season last week with a disappointing finish at the NCAA Championship in Toledo, Ohio. The Bruins finished tied for 24th on a 30-team field that featured some of the best teams and golfers in the country.
The Bruins came into the final tournament of the year with momentum following their first team victory in the previous tournament at the NCAA Regionals, but they were unable to deliver when the pressure was on. UCLA members shot one of their worst rounds of the season in the first round, digging themselves a hole that they couldn’t climb out of as they finished the first day tied for 24th and ended the tournament in the same spot.
Individually, the Bruins didn’t have much success either, as their best finisher freshman Gregor Main finished tied for 55th.
Senior Erik Flores was the only Bruin senior who participated and was disappointed that his final holes of golf for UCLA were so anti-climactic, as it became apparent that his team had no chance to climb into eighth place and advance to the match play portion of the tournament.
Flores kept his head up, though, upon completion of his college career, looking back fondly on his successes as a Bruin.
“It kind of sucks it came down like that, but I experienced everything I came to UCLA to experience,” Flores said. “I got a national championship while I was here, which was my main goal, so there was nothing to be sad about.”
Flores will now try to qualify for the Walker Cup team, a Ryder Cup-style tournament between the United States and Great Britain and Ireland, but for amateurs. After that, Flores will begin trying to make his way through Q-School to qualify for the PGA Tour in the coming years.
For the rest of the UCLA team, the focus now shifts to summer tournaments and next season. Experience was clearly a factor for the young Bruin team and they all plan on qualifying for PGA events and playing amateur tournaments over summer to better prepare themselves for the next season. Without Flores, the Bruins will need Main and sophomore Philip Francis to emerge as leaders.
“I honestly think we’ll be really good next year,” Main said. “We’ll have a really good shot at winning the title, so I’m pumped up for next year.”
Main had some success playing PGA events this season, as he competed in the Buick Invitational at Torrey Pines in February. Main plans on playing a full summer of amateur golf along with qualifiers to PGA tournaments in order to prepare for next season.
Francis had success in the John Deere Classic, a PGA event he played in last summer. He finished that tournament seven-under par and in 34th place, but was just four strokes back entering the final day. Francis was invited back to play it again this summer, and is hoping to continue to compete at a high level.
“Everyone has things they individually need to work on to get better,” Francis said. “We’ll go into next year with a fresh start. Hopefully everyone has a good summer and prepares well for the fall and (we’ll) come out with a bang.”
In addition to Main and Francis, the Bruins will return freshman Alex Kim and sophomore Connor Driscoll, both of whom competed in the NCAA Championship and gained valuable experience for next year. The Bruins will also add Taylor Travis, who redshirted this season, and will return freshman Beau Schoolcraft, who shot two rounds under par this season in competition.