Freezing up the competition

Friday, May 29, 1998

Freezing up the competition

FEATURE: Brandon DiTullio’s golfing legacy, upbringing and love
for Slurpees hones his talents

By Moin Salahuddin

Daily Bruin Contributor

Michael Jordan is to Gatorade as Brandon DiTullio is to …
Slurpees!

UCLA men’s golfer DiTullio is an avid fan of 7-Eleven’s No. 1
creation: the Slurpee.

"I love Slurpees," DiTullio said. "They’re great. I try to have
one at least every day. All of the flavors are great, too! They’re
probably not as healthy as Gatorade, but they taste twice as
good."

While DiTullio might not be consuming the vital nutrients that
other sport figures do, he does possess quite a golf game. This
junior from Thousand Oaks has played at the top of the Bruins’
roster for two years in a row.

However, this success did not only begin at UCLA for DiTullio.
While at Westlake High School, DiTullio lettered in golf for four
years, while capturing the team’s Most Valuable Player award his
junior and senior years. As the captain for the last three years on
that team, DiTullio won the Miramonte League Individual
Championship in 1995, and was selected league MVP.

DiTullio’s greatest experiences occurred in 1994-5, when he was
a member of the Hogan Cup team, qualified for the California State
Amateur at Pebble Beach, and played in the United States Junior
Championship.

"I was fairly successful in high school and luckily, I had the
opportunity to play in some great tournaments," DiTullio said. "I
enjoy competing, and playing against some of the best golfers in
the nation was a great experience."

Now in his third season under head coach Brad Sherfy, DiTullio
has had a euphoria-filled season.

DiTullio and fellow junior B.J. Schlagenhauf have led their team
into the NCAA Championships. DiTullio led UCLA in numerous
tournaments, while also shooting 71-71 for the first two rounds of
the NCAA West Regionals.

His effort at the NCAA West Regionals provided UCLA a berth into
the NCAA Championships. He also garnered second team All-Pacific 10
Conference honors for the second consecutive year.

"I was pretty happy that I received such a distinction," said
DiTullio. "But next year, I want to be an All-American, and I want
us to win the national title."

Earlier this season Brandon DiTullio captured individual
medalist honors at the highly prestigious Arizona State
Thunderbird/Savane Invitational. His five-under-par score of 211
gave the Bruins the team title as well, defeating many of the
top-ranked teams in the nation.

"That tournament was one of the highlights of my career as an
individual," DiTullio said. "But my focus is on team goals rather
than on individual ones. I know our team can compete with any other
teams in the nation, and I think we got a good shot at being NCAA
Champs."

DiTullio’s fierce competitiveness can only be matched by his
desire to succeed in all that he does. While it may seem that golf
is the only thing on his mind, academics also play an important
role as well.

"I want to turn pro someday and play on the PGA Tour," said
DiTullio. "But I also know that I’ll need to do well in academics.
That’s why I’m trying to focus on school and golf as much as I
possibly can."

DiTullio has become one of the premier golfers in the nation,
not by sheer luck, but by practice and teaching.

"Coach Sherfy has been a great influence on me and my entire
game," DiTullio said. "He’s helped me in all aspects of golf, both
the physical and mental approach. My father has also been extremely
influential in my game."

Golf appears to run in the DiTullio family’s genes. DiTullio’s
father, Jerry, played golf at UCLA from 1968 to 1971. And Brandon’s
younger brother wants to attend UCLA to play golf as well.

"It’s all about UCLA with my family," DiTullio said. "I know a
lot of my relatives who come here. I guess I was destined to be
here."

In his free time, DiTullio enjoys fishing, almost as much as he
enjoys Slurpees.

"It’s very peaceful, and I just love to do it," DiTullio said.
"There’s nothing like fishing with my little brother out in the
Pacific. It’s just fun."

So the next time you’re out at a lake and see some guy with a
Slurpee in one hand and a fishing pole (in reality, a 2-iron with
some twine) in the other, it might be future PGA hall of famer
Brandon DiTullio.

UCLA Sports Information

Brandon DiTullio swings his way toward a future in professional
golf.