Team aims to shock golf world with consistency
By Daily Bruin Staff
Sept. 23, 2001 9:00 p.m.
WOMEN’S GOLF Based on intersquad competition,
the top three women’s golfers represent UCLA at different
tournaments. Bridget Dwyer (Jr.) Vivan Phosomran (Jr.) Alicia Um
(Sr.) SOURCE: UCLA Sports Info VICTOR CHEN/Daily Bruin Senior
Staff
By Michelle Coppolella
Daily Bruin Reporter
When you have one of those years you just want to forget about,
making a quiet but dignified exit out of the season is something
every team member seems to silently agree to. But at the 2000-2001
season close, the Bruins shocked the golf community when the
women’s golf team tied for fifth in the NCAA Championships,
finishing ahead of every West Coast team in the conference.
Now No. 15 UCLA looks to this season for a fresh start and plans
to shock the world again ““ only this time it hopes to do so
with an all-around stellar season.
“I’m really confident about this team because
it’s very young and the chemistry is there,” head coach
Carrie Leary said. “But I would like to see us have a better
overall year this year and let the National Championship take care
of itself.”
Despite the fact that the Bruins will have to do without former
senior team captains Laura Moffat and Leilani Bagby, returning
starters Saki Uechi, Melissa Martin, and Gina Umeck will bring
experience, maturity and a high level of play to the youthful
roster.
On the other side of the green, freshmen Charlotte Mayorkas and
Yvonne Choe seek to shake up UCLA’s lineup as they enter
college competition.
According to Leary, the mixture of calculated experience and
fresh, raw inexperience to the roster is a lethal combination when
considering this year’s competition in the Pac-10.
“There’s a lot more even playing ground in the
Pac-10 this year,” Leary said. “All of teams are a lot
closer than in past in terms of strengths. It should be interesting
to see how it all pans out and shakes down with so much parody
across the board, but I have a lot of confidence in our
team.”
The Bruins kicked off their season this past weekend at the Fall
Preview in Auburn, Washington.
Despite tough competition from top five opponents Duke, Arizona
and Auburn, Leary is optimistic about her team’s chances in
the tournament held at the Washington National Golf Club.
“I’m extremely impressed with the way they’ve
been playing in preparation for the upcoming tournament,”
Leary said. “Last year we didn’t have a good year, we
struggled through the spring, and we finished poorly at Pac
10s.
“But we stepped up at the end, and this year they’re
looking to continue that high level of play from the get-go and to
bring a lot of pride to the program.”
WOMEN’S GOLF SCHEDULE Date
Event Time 9/24-26 Fall Preview
All Day 10/9-11 New Mexico State Collegiate All Day 10/19-21 Pepsi
Invitational All Day 11/9-12 GolfWorld invitational All Day 2/11-13
Regional Challenge All Day 2/25-27 Arizona Wildcat invitational All
Day 3/11-12 Pioneer Electronics Bruin Classic All Day 4/5-7
PING/ASU Lady Sun Devil Invitational All Day 4/13-14 California
Collegiate All Day 4/22-24 Pac-10 Championships All Day 5/9-11 NCAA
Regional Championships All Day 5/21-24 NCAA Championships All Day
SOURCE: UCLA Sports Info (schedule is tentative) VICTOR CHEN/Daily
Bruin Senior Staff
