Low finishes motivate team to train harder for Big Island Classic
By Daily Bruin Staff
Feb. 14, 2001 9:00 p.m.
 Sports Information Junior Parker
McLachlin returns to his home for the TaylorMade Big
Island Classic. MEN’S GOLF Taylor Made Big Island
Classic Today – Saturday, All day South Kohala, HI
By Suzanne Cabral
Daily Bruin Contributor
The Bruins hope to regain their confidence and fuel their
championship endeavors this week at the TaylorMade Big Island
Classic, held at the Waikoloa Kings Country Club in South Kohala,
Hawaii.
At last year’s tournament the Bruins placed 13th out of 24
teams with a final score of 892, 36-over par. The tournament
highlight for the team was in the last round when they earned the
lowest team score of 294 for the day.
There are 23 teams participating in this year’s
tournament, including Georgia Tech who won last year with a 54-hole
total of 853, 1-under par. This was eight shots better than second
place Arizona State, who will also compete this year.
Junior Parker McLachlin was the top finisher last year, tying
for 26th place at 220, 6-over par. Sophomore Travis Johnson
finished in a tie for 69th place with a total score of 228.
McLachlin and Johnson are both going to compete in the
tournament again, along with sophomore J.T. Kohut, and freshmen
John Merrick and Roy Moon.
After a disappointing finish at the January PING/Intercollegiate
Tournament in Arizona, the Bruins have aimed to go above and beyond
what it takes to make their championship dreams a reality.
“The way we played was pretty disappointing,”
McLachlin said of the spring opener. “It was a bit of a
disappointing start to the spring season, but it gives us an
inspiration to do better.”
This trip to Hawaii will be the big chance for the Bruins to
redeem themselves. The players have been working harder in practice
to ensure themselves a spot at the tournament since only five
players will be able to play, as is the case for almost all
tournaments.
Competition among the players has become more intense, resulting
in the improvement of the team as a whole.
“There is more of a cutthroat attitude on the team,”
McLachlin said. “The guys have been practicing harder because
no one wants to lose their spot.”
Going to Hawaii has another special significance to McLachlin,
who was born and raised in Honolulu and was a four-year golf
letterman at Punahou School.
“I’m really excited because I get to go home,”
he said.
