A year ago, it was a surprise when the UCLA men’s golf
team wasn’t at the winner’s podium after a tournament.
This year, it has become practice. The Bruins battled their way to
another mediocre finish Saturday, finishing fifth in the ASU
Thunderbird Invitational with a collective team total of 21-over
par. While it may have been UCLA’s third-best finish of the
spring season, the Bruins were not in contention during the
tournament’s final round. UCLA was 14 shots behind
first-place UNLV, who defeated Pepperdine by two shots on Saturday
to claim the championship held on Karsten Golf Course in Tempe,
Ariz. Freshman Daniel Im once again paced the Bruins, finishing as
the team’s highest finisher in 15th place at 3-over par.
Freshman Kevin Chappell and sophomore Peter Campbell also cracked
the top 30, finishing in 23rd and 27th place respectively. A year
ago, UCLA’s starting lineup was comprised of four seniors and
one junior. At this most recent tournament, two freshmen and three
sophomores took to the links for the Bruins.
BEST IN SHOW: Im was recently named the Pac-10 Golfer of the
Month for March. The Fullerton native played five rounds last
month, comprising an average score of 69.8. He also collected his
first collegiate tournament victory at the Southern Highlands
Collegiate Championship.
MASTERFUL: UNLV apparently didn’t need the services of the
most decorated amateur in golf to win the ASU Thunderbird
Invitational. While the Runnin’ Rebels were running away with
the tournament, their best player, Ryan Moore, competed at the
Masters. Moore, who also won the individual NCAA Championship and
the U.S. Amateur last summer, was the highest-ranking amateur at
the Masters, finishing at 1-under par.