• printer friendly
• mail this article
• iPod format
• digg

Friday, 5/30/97 UCLA wades into too deep waters M.GOLF: Although Bruins went out fighting, downfall due to terrible first-round play, weather, tough course

By Chris Umpierre Daily Bruin Contributor The UCLA men's golf team dug themselves too big of a hole in the first round Wednesday to overcome in Thursday's second round. After a horrendous 303 in the first round at the NCAA Championships in Lake Forest, Ill., the UCLA men's golf team wasn't able to crawl back into the tournament in the second round. The squad finished in 26th place, which ousted the Bruins from the championships. Only the top 15 teams continue in the tournament. But the Bruins didn't exit the championships without a fight. UCLA shot an improved 295 in the second round to pull them up two spots in the standings from 28th to 26th. True freshmen Steve Wagner shot his best round as a Bruin, with a 69 in the second round. It was seven shots better than his first round showing. But Wednesday's first round proved to be the Bruins' downfall. To come back after a dismal score in the first round was a tall order to fulfill in any tournament, not to mention the NCAA Championships where the best 30 teams in the nation are in attendance. All the Bruins have to do is ask the UNLV Running Rebels, who after being ranked No. 1 going into the championships, were also cut from the championships with the help of horrid first round. "We just dug too deep of a hole," UNLV head coach Dwaine Knight said after his Rebels weren't able to come back after a 300 in the first round. "The course is playing hard, there's no doubt. We needed a better number to post." Hard is an understatement for the Conway Farms golf course. At par 71, the course has left many of the nation's top players shooting high scores. When a team hasn't played on the course beforehand it is especially difficult. This is what plagued the Bruins, who had only one practice round to get used to the tough course. But it was not just the tough golf course that plagued both schools' comebacks, it was also the tough weather conditions. The weather was in the 40s with some wind through two rounds and will continue to be so in the two final rounds of the championships. "People keep on saying it's the weather," East Tennessee State's Keith Nolan said, after shooting a 66 in the second round to move into a first-place tie. "Believe me, I prefer playing in 80 degrees and shorts. In conditions like this, you've got to be more patient." Luckily for him, he will have the chance to battle the weather, unlike UCLA and UNLV. Related Links:NCAA