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.