First-round errors lead to 10th place finish for golfer

UCLA senior golfer Erik Flores tied for 10th place last week at the Western Refining All-American Classic in El Paso, Texas. He started on Monday with a disappointing round of 75 (+4) but finished strong with rounds of 67 (-4) and 71 (E) to finish at even on the tournament with a score of 213.

Flores battled through high winds and a rough first round, gaining ground in the second by shooting one of his best rounds of the year, a 67. His second-round performance was also the best second round score of anyone competing in the tournament.

Flores was plagued by numerous mistakes during the first round, including four penalty strokes after hitting into the water twice and out of bounds once. He also missed a few short putts that upped his score.

“I had to start making putts to keep myself in it,” Flores said. “I really hadn’t seen many putts drop in the first round.”

He got a boost of momentum during the second round on the sixth hole, a 410-yard par-4. Flores hit the green with his second shot, about 35 feet from the hole. He drained the putt for birdie and carried this momentum with him throughout the second round, making five more birdies in his final 12 holes.

Despite his stellar second round and solid third-round 71, it was not enough to come back from his costly errors from Monday morning.

“Without the penalties, I had a real shot to win,” Flores said. “And that’s still without making many putts.”

During the long break before the team’s next event on Feb. 16, Flores said he will continue to work on his short game and putting, which he believes is the key to success.

This event proved him right, as putting was the difference between a bad first round and an improvement in the second round.

Mike Van Sickle of Marquette won the tournament, beating out Trent Leon from Oklahoma State in a six-hole play-off after they both finished at 6-under.