The UCLA men’s golf team is working with young players and trying to minimize the so-called rookie mistakes before spring season starts knocking at their door, and all the competitions start leading up to NCAA championships.
On Oct. 6, the Bruins failed to relive the victorious moment they had last season at Erin Hills Intercollegiate – except for senior Jonathan Garrick, who won the tournament by two shots with an overall score of 10-under par. The team, however, placed third behind SMU and Oklahoma State.
According to Derek Freeman, the problems for the team were “young mistakes”
“We need to do a better job of making better decisions in the golf course, and that’s going to immediately affect our scores,” Freeman said.
UCLA’s top scorer Garrick said he looks at each tournament and studies the course to apply to the next competition.
“If I just work on the weaknesses from every tournament I had, I’m always going to be better in my next tournament, having a better chance to win,” Garrick said.
Freshman Patrick Murphy placed in the top 10 in the first tournament and he got to experience his own style of play and all of its different effects.
“The biggest transition in college golf is that we are starting to play much more difficult golf courses. My style of play could be toned back a little bit because you are penalized more for small things where easier golf courses, you can play much more aggressively and you don’t get in trouble as often,” Murphy said.
(via Daily Bruin)
