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  DANIEL WONG Gina Umeck, left, and Melissa Martin have already conquered the world of collegiate golf in one year.

By Michelle Coppolella

Daily Bruin Contributor

If you’ve ever sat atop the Bruin Bear, you know that it’s not only challenging to climb the massive, 10-foot structure – it’s scary. Even more important, screwing up could be one of the most embarrassing moments of your life at UCLA.

However, freshmen golfers Melissa Martin and Gina Umeck showed no hint of embarrassment or fear; these things faded into the background as they each boosted one another on top of the Bruin Bear and shared the satisfaction of being on top of the world. And these two Bruins are definitely on top of the world – the world of golf and life at UCLA.

After UCLA placed seventh in the Pac-10 Championship last Wednesday, both Umeck and Martin received an honorable mention on the All-Conference team along with sophomore teammate Saki Uechi. With this tremendous accomplishment, a sense of satisfaction and pride would have been a likely reaction – but the award has only left the girls salivating for more.

“I definitely think I have a lot more to accomplish, but I think it’s such a great honor,” said Martin. “I was actually shocked when they called me up. I think Gina (Umeck) is outstanding and to be put in the same category as her and other top golfers is such an honor.”

Despite being surprised, their performance on the course tells the story of their worthiness. Of the 10 tournaments UCLA has played, Martin has been UCLA’s top golfer in two of them and Umeck has led the Bruins in four of them, with all of Umeck’s scores meriting a top-25 finish.

But these girls share a lot more than the ability to lead the Bruins in more than 50 percent of their matches. Since the age of eight, they’ve been playing golf together, and each has watched the other’s game and life develop over the years. Future roommates who share pride in their Italian heritage, their close relationship on and off the course radiates in the smiles that form when the other’s name is mentioned.

“I love Melissa,” Umeck said. “I think she’s an awesome part of this team. We definitely both have a fire and a lot of internal drive that cut through a lot of the anxiety. She has a real desire to perform, and that’s what I admire most about her.”

Similarly, Martin can’t say enough about the teammate and friend to whom she will often chant “birdie for the bambini” on the course.

“I respect her so much on and off the course,” Martin said. “I’ve learned a lot from her and I know I have a lot more to learn. I really look forward to being with her and competing with her in the next year.”

But before these Bruins can think about next year, the NCAA West Regionals this Saturday is another reminder that these girls are nowhere near done – the season will ultimately come down to this tournament.

“I’m absolutely confident that we have the ability to do well,” Martin said. “But I think we each need to go out there and play our own game. We all know how to do it, but it’s a matter of finding our own game as a team.”

“I think we need to just stop trying to press things and let things unfold,” Umeck added. “We just need to let the natural sequence of events flow in our own games.”

But not all things flow as naturally as we would like, and Martin and Umeck know this better than anyone. Adjusting to being a student-athlete at UCLA is about as easy as sinking a hole-in-one, but they both took on the challenge with eagerness and the process was relatively painless.

“If you don’t already know time management, you definitely learn it,” Umeck said. “But it really didn’t take me very long to adjust here because I actually like being busy. I feel like I’m milking each day for everything it’s worth.”

“The hardest thing is traveling because I miss so much school, but the athletic department gets so much support,” Martin added. “I came to UCLA expecting a lot and everything has surpassed my expectations. I’m completely satisfied with everything that has happened.”

Undoubtedly included in that was the thrill of sitting on the Bruin Bear for the first time. But if you ever see these girls on the Bruin Bear again, feel free to point a finger and laugh at them – they won’t mind. They’ll still be on top of the world.