UCLA Opens Season Strong at Maui Jim Intercollegiate

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – The UCLA men's golf team saw three under-par individual performances in its season-opening round at the Maui Jim Intercollegiate at Mirabel Golf Club Friday.
 
The Bruins finished the day -6, 274 as a team, tied with New Mexico in ninth place, in its first competition under the new leadership of head coach Armen Kirakossian.
 
A pair of underclassmen in freshman Kyle An and sophomore Evan Chien were UCLA's top scorers. An signed off on a bogey-free -3, 67 in his first collegiate round of golf while Chien opened his sophomore campaign with a -3, 67 of his own, ending the day with a flurry of four birdies on the last five holes.
 
An and Chien sit tied for 21st, seven strokes behind Auburn's Ryan Eshleman (-10, 60). The Tigers lead the field by 10 strokes after a -22, 258 on day one.
 
Senior Mason Greene was the Bruins' third under-par score with a -2, 68. He is tied for 29th.
 
Pablo Ereño Perez (+2, 72) and Omar Morales (+4, 74) rounded out UCLA's scores.
 
UCLA begins round two of the Maui Jim Intercollegiate tomorrow morning, with the first group teeing off at 8 a.m. PT on the 10th hole.