As discussion brews over which UCLA team will be the one to
bring home the school’s 100th national championship, one team
seems to remain overlooked.
That team is the No. 5 men’s golf team, which opens up
regional play today at the Lake Nona Golf Course in Orlando,
Fla.
The Bruins are participating in the East Regional along with 26
other teams, 14 of which were ranked in the nation’s top 50.
Top-ranked Georgia is also taking part in the regional.
“We’re really excited about traveling to Florida for
the East Regional,” UCLA coach O.D. Vincent said in a
release. “Georgia is the top-ranked team in the nation and
set the standard for our sport this season.
“We’re looking forward to competing against
them.”
An advantage for the Bruins heading into this weekend’s
regional is the fact that the Bruins played in a tournament earlier
in the season in Isleworth, Fla., which is very close to the site
of the NCAA East Regional in Orlando.
“We’re very familiar with the area,” Vincent
said. “Lake Nona is a sister course of Isleworth.”
In order to qualify for the NCAA Men’s Golf Championship,
which is scheduled to take place from May 31 to June 3 at
Crosswater Golf Club in Sunriver, Ore., the Bruins must finish in
the top 10 in the East Regional.
The Bruins have qualified for the NCAA Championship in each of
the past three seasons. Vincent was pleased with the draw he
received this season.
“The (NCAA selection) committee did an excellent job of
balancing out the regions,” Vincent said. “I’m a
huge fan of it ““ all of the regionals are
well-balanced.”
The Bruins’ recent history at regionals has been very
positive. UCLA won in regional play in both 2003 and 2004. The
Bruins finished third and second, respectively, in those years in
the NCAA Championships.
Last season at regionals, the Bruins tied for fourth place but
finished dead last out of the 30 teams that qualified for the NCAA
Championships.
The other Pac-10 teams participating in regional play ““
Arizona State, Stanford and Washington ““ were all placed in
the Western Regional.