Some may melt amid hot and dry conditions under the unrelenting Arizona sun.

But as the Bruins look to push toward a strong finish to their 2025-2026 season, staying hot is a priority.

UCLA men’s golf travels to the Papago Golf Course in Phoenix, Arizona, to compete in the Thunderbird Collegiate tournament. The two-day event will take place Friday and Saturday, with the Bruins playing 36 holes on the first day and another 18 on the second.

The weather in Phoenix looks standard for the desert, with temperatures reaching the low 90s on the first day of the tournament.

“That is just a part of golf,” said head coach Armen Kirakossian. “It is an outdoor sport where you play in all different types of environments and weather.”

With the Phoenix heat, the Thunderbird Collegiate tournament expects to play fast and firm. Kirakossian, who spent five seasons at Arizona State before taking the head coaching position at UCLA, may know this better than anyone.

With his knowledge of the course – as well as the team’s prior participation in the event the past few seasons – the Bruins look to capitalize on their experience.

“We are pretty confident that [Kirakossian] can show us around the course,” said freshman Tyler Loree. “So just listen to him while sticking to our old game plan.”

Another freshman on the Bruins hopes his improved play will continue into the desert. Josh Kim led the Bruins in scoring at The Goodwin tournament in a tie for 6th with a 6-under 204 last month, helping guide the team to a second-place finish.

“I give him a ton of credit,” Kirakossian said. “It was a tough start for him in the fall, but he did not get discouraged. He kept working really hard, and he has come back and is really starting to catch his groove.”

Kirakossian will need more than just production from his freshman class, however.

With UCLA returning to the Thunderbird Collegiate competition for the third straight season, the Bruins may need to rely on their upperclassmen.

For senior Kyle An, a first-round 6-under 65 marked a tie for his best single round of golf last season. While finishing the tournament tied for 17th, his success on the course seemingly bodes well for his team.

“We are really looking for him to continue that play and that momentum, and it will make a big impact for the team,” Kirakossian said.

The Thunderbird Collegiate competition marks the last regular season tournament for UCLA. As postseason play looms large – with the Big Ten tournament slated to start May 1 – the Bruins enter the Arizona heat for one final time this regular season.

For a freshman like Loree, even the desert sun does not appear to melt his cool.

“Making sure I am focusing on the right things,” Loree said. “I play for fun, and I love to compete with my team, and I want to go out and play for them and try my absolute best.”