W. golf: Does women’s golf have the best chance of any UCLA team to win a national title this spring?

You’ve never seen them play and you may not know any of
their names, but they have the best chance to win an NCAA title
this spring.

The UCLA women’s golf team is in third place behind Auburn
and third-round leader Duke heading into today’s final round,
but there’s reason to believe the team can overcome the
nine-stroke deficit.

Why, you ask?

First of all, they’ve done it before.

Just last season, they surprised everyone and defeated
overwhelming favorite Duke by three strokes for the national
title.

Second, they have a player by the name of Charlotte Mayorkas,
who happens to be one of the most clutch players in the nation.

Mayorkas was the Bruins’ second leading golfer in last
year’s NCAA Tournament and has been the Bruins’ anchor
this year.

Even with the rest of the team struggling, the Bruins have
managed to stay in contention for the title heading into the final
round.

If Hannah Jun or Susie Mathews can play a good round tomorrow in
the nasty 40-degree weather, the Bruins can certainly make a
run.

If those factors alone don’t convince you that
women’s golf has the best chance to win a national title of
any UCLA team, just take a quick look at the other Bruin
squads.

The two-time defending national championship softball team has
lost more games this season than in the last two seasons
combined.

The men’s tennis team has reached the finals of the NCAA
Tournament five times in the last 20 years and they have lost all
five.

And the women’s track and field team won its first
national title in 20 years last year. Even though the Bruins are in
the top five this year, what are the odds they win another one?

So if you still don’t know the women’s golf team
after they win their second consecutive national title,
that’s fine. But you better start paying attention.

Compiled by Sagar Parikh, Bruin Sports staff.