With its season winding down, the UCLA men’s golf team appeared to have hit a speed bump heading into its last tournament before the Pac-10 Championships at the end of the month.
After consistently placing in the top three of tournaments for the majority of their season, the Bruins recorded sixth- and seventh-place finishes in their last two tournaments heading into this weekend.
But if this weekend serves as any indication as to how the Bruins will perform in the postseason, then they should be just fine.
The No. 2 Bruins traveled north to Pasatiempo Golf Club in Santa Cruz to compete in three rounds of the Western Collegiate hosted by San Jose State.
UCLA must have been itching to prove itself once again, because the team jumped out to an early lead after the first day of play and never looked back.
Two rounds of play were initially scheduled for Saturday, but play was suspended because of darkness in the middle of the tournament’s second round. As the field headed back to the clubhouse, UCLA held a 13-stroke lead.
Sunday was more of the same, as the Bruins recorded a team tournament total score of 1066 (+16), eight shots ahead of No. 23 USC, which came in second place.
Pasatiempo Golf Club, an Alister MacKenzie-designed course, proved a challenge to the Bruins and the rest of the field that included No. 7 Augusta State and No. 11 San Diego State among the field of 15 teams.
Individually, the Bruins had five players finish in the top 25.
Sophomore Pontus Widegren was the top player for the Bruins, finishing in a tie for fifth place with an even score of 210. Widegren, who said earlier in the week that he enjoyed playing Pasatiempo, had eagles in each of his first two rounds.
Junior Alex Kim finished seventh with a weekend total of 211 (+1) and freshman Patrick Cantlay finished in a tie for 13th with a score of 214 (+4).
Following up Cantlay was junior Gregor Main, who finished in a tie for 15th with a five over 215 and rounding out the leaderboard for the Bruins was sophomore Mario Clemens, who finished 56th.
The Bruins will hope to carry their momentum from this win into the Pac-10 Championship, which begins on April 29 in Palo Alto.
Compiled by Manny Redruello, Bruin Sports senior staff.