While temperatures rise as spring arrives in the Northern Hemisphere, the Bruins are halfway through back-to-back bouts in two of the Union’s hottest states.

No. 10 UCLA men’s golf finished third at the Calusa Cup in Naples, Florida, from Sunday to Tuesday, with a 1-under 863. The first of two events in a single week, it marks the start of a hot and travel-heavy few days for the the team.

“We have a really deep team, meaning that all five guys are really competitive, and all five guys can go out there and win the tournament individually,” said senior Pablo Ereño, who carded an even par over the three rounds and a tie for 10th. “Overall, we competed pretty solid.”

That depth was on full display in Florida at the Calusa Pines Golf Club, with the Bruins scattered across the upper half of the leaderboard.

Junior Kyle An led the squad with a seventh place 2-under 214, while freshman Baylor Larabee came 16th with a 2-over 218. Senior Omar Morales found 21st with a 6-over 222, and sophomore Luke Powell rounded out the team with a 27th place 8-over 224.

“Kyle has just matured a lot over the last few years,” said coach Armen Kirakossian. “He’s becoming way more relaxed on the golf course and a happy golfer. … It’s really a mental thing for him, an emotional maturity that he’s coming into.”

All but one of the players recorded their best rounds on the third day and moved up the leaderboard, which Ereño said was thanks to learning the once-foreign course over the three days. Florida, the reigning champion, was perhaps also helped by experience, edging out Louisville by one stroke to win the tournament with a 17-under 847.

“We had a great final round to get our team score back to one under par,” Kirakossian said, referring to Tuesday’s 9-under 279. “We’re proud of the way the guys competed and battled on a place they’ve never seen before, in a time zone across the country.”

The firm and fast greens of Florida provided good practice for the Bruins’ next bout – the Thunderbird Intercollegiate in Phoenix – as they adjusted to the greens and the heat at the Calusa Pines Golf Club.

“The first two days, I was struggling with short putting, and I think the third day, I went out there and I was more comfortable on the greens,” Ereño said. “I know in that course – the third round – it felt a lot better. And I think we saw that as a team too.”

The Thunderbird will tee off Friday, meaning UCLA will have only one day back in Westwood before departing for the Arizona State tournament.

Ereño said the team will focus on staying adequately hydrated as it transitions from wet to dry heat but added that the quick turnaround between tournaments could help the Bruins retain momentum. In a string of four events from Jan. 27 to March 29 after the winter break, UCLA landed 12th, ninth, third and finally first at the Goodwin, respectively.

Ereño also said approach shots – the strokes aimed at reaching the green from the fairway – would be key in order to set up team success on tougher greens.

“The key for this week is going to be lowering the amount of three putts we have,” Ereño said. “Make sure we give ourselves the best chances to score.”

The Bruins have played at the Thunderbird Intercollegiate for five of the last six years, tying for second in last year’s iteration.

There are even closer ties, however. Kirakossian said he helped build the event during his tenure at Arizona State, where he spent five years before taking the helm at UCLA. He added that the transition in terms of shot types should be smooth.

“Being able to go back and compete in the event is always exciting,” Kirakossian said. “Just a lot of excitement to be there. I think we’re all looking forward to getting back at it.”