The UCLA men’s golf team has achieved limited success,
qualifying for 28 NCAA Championships in the program’s
history, while winning its lone title in 2004.
But set against the backdrop of 99 NCAA titles that are flaunted
about in the J.D. Morgan Center, that doesn’t satisfy
expectations the way it might at other schools.
So the No. 5 Bruins travel to Sunriver, Ore., to open up play in
the 2006 NCAA Championships and meet the gaudy expectations that
have been just out of reach 27 times.
“Winning the national title means a lot,” said
freshman Erik Flores, who was named Pac-10 Freshman of the Year on
May 5.
“It’s what we work for all season. We don’t
work to win small tournaments. This is the end product that we work
for.”
Under coach O.D. Vincent’s guidance, the Bruins soared
this season, finishing ranked fifth in the nation. UCLA won seven
tournaments this year, a success highlighted by its first-place
finish at the Pac-10 Championships.
“We’ve had a great season, and there wouldn’t
be a better way to end it than with the title. But we know that
anything can happen, and all we can do is get ourselves in a
position to win,” Flores said.
Flores led the team with a scoring average of 72.1 and finished
the season ranked 13th nationally. Sophomore Daniel Im, who won the
Pac-10 individual title, finished closely behind Flores, ranking
23rd with a scoring average of 72.3.
But as the Bruins head to Sunriver, Ore. for the final
tournament, they know all of those numbers are only good for peace
of mind, because now they mean nothing.
At the NCAA East Regionals, May 18-20, UCLA’s season
nearly came to an end as it entered the final round tied for ninth
place.
But then the Bruins came alive, shooting 2-under par to secure
their spot in the NCAA Championships for the fourth straight
season.
“The (East) Regional was a great learning experience for
us,” Vincent said.
“Quite honestly, we didn’t play well the first two
days. We played great on the last nine holes, and that will give us
some momentum for the NCAA Championships.”
Confidence will be important for the team as it enters this
tournament. Although the golfers were able to recover from
inconsistent play at regionals, one bad day at nationals may leave
the Bruins in a hole too deep for them to recover.
“We’re working to fix (the inconsistency),”
sophomore Kevin Chappell said.
“Everyone knew what we needed to work on. Now we just
(need) to grind away and be positive. Whether its socially or on
the golf course, we have to create a positive mojo,” he
said
Chappell’s positive attitude has been evident every time
he has stepped on the golf course recently. He finished first at
regionals and is brimming with confidence in his game, reiterating
that he has as legitimate a chance as anyone else to take first
place at the NCAA Championships.
But that doesn’t mean he is anticipating much attention
when the Bruins arrive in Oregon.
“No one is expecting (me to win) and I am definitely an
underdog, but that’s fine with me. I know I have a chance if
I play my best,” Chappell said.
If this sense of stubborn determination becomes contagious, the
team may find itself with a very real opportunity to snatch
UCLA’s 100th NCAA title on Saturday.
The Bruins will also make one lineup change. Freshman James Lee
will replace freshman Lucas Lee in the fifth spot. Junior Chris
Heintz, Im, Chappell and Flores will remain in the lineup.
But few were talking about the roster changes.
Instead, they were focusing on the grand allure of an upset.
“We’ve been underdogs all year. All of us think we
can win. No one expects us to win, but we all believe we can. So
we’ll see who is right,” Chappell said.