Kirakossian Announces First Signing Class at UCLA

LOS ANGELES – Armen Kirakossian has officially announced his first signees as head coach of the UCLA men's golf program. The group includes Luke Powell from Laguna Niguel, Calif., Luciano Conlan from Kaneohe, Hawaii and Alex Papayoanou from The Woodlands, Texas.
 
Luke Powell – Laguna Niguel, Calif. (Capistrano Valley Christian Schools)
Powell was recently crowned champion of the Southern California Junior Amateur Golf Championship at Morongo last month. Powell accounted for two of the three lowest rounds posted at the event and with a 4-under 68 and 6-under 66.
 
Earlier in 2022, Powell rallied with four birdies on the six opening holes of the back nine in the final round of the AJGA Dave Stockton Junior Championship for his first AJGA victory. He was the only junior to shoot all three rounds under par (69-67-68) to finish 6-under for the tournament.
 
Powell has experience in major amateur tournaments, competing in the 2022 U.S. Amateur after qualifying with the third-lowest score at Mission Viejo Country Club (67-71). Powell also competed in the 2022 U.S. Junior Amateur this summer.
 
In 2021, Powell medaled at the Toyota Tour Cup (TTC) Patrick Cantlay Foundation Series Finale at the Indian Wells Golf Resort. Powell started the third round in need of overcoming a three-stroke deficit. He delivered, firing a final round 6-under 66 for a two-day score of 9-under 135.
 
In high school play for Capistrano Valley Christian Schools, Powell is the reigning two-time Mesquite Valley League MVP, League Champion and League Player of the Year.

Luciano Conlan – Kaneohe, Hawaii (Classical Academy)
Conlan, a left-hander from O'ahu, qualified for the 122nd U.S. Amateur with a win at the Hoakalei Country Club qualifier in Hawaii with 5-under performance (68-71). Conlan has two tournament medals under his belt across the past two years, winning the Klipper Invitational in his most recent event this October with a score 69-67-70 and the Junior Americas Cup in July 2021 with a score of 65-71-68.
 
"People always ask what do you look for in a recruit? My response, a kid that wins golf tournaments, and that is exactly what Luciano has done in his career thus far," Kirakossian said. "He has won a lot of golf tournaments. From Hawaii, Luciano has the stereotypical laid-back vibe but is a fierce competitor. He has his own style and owns it. That confidence will make a huge impact on the course and culture of the team. We are so excited to have Luciano in Westwood."
 
So far in 2022, Conlan has finished top 10 in four USGA events: Army Invitational (5th out of 89; 67-67-75), Oahu Country Club Invitational (8th out of 31; 70-72-72), Hawaii State Match Play – Manoa Cup (3rd) and the UNIQLO Adam Scott Junior Championship (T-3rd; 72-72-69).
 
In high school play, Conlan is the reigning CIF San Diego Section Champion and Section Player of the Year.
 
Alex Papayoanou – The Woodlands, Texas (The Woodlands High School)
Papayoanou has recorded five top 10 finishes and two tournament medals over the last two years, including a victory at his most recent event last September, the Greater Houston City Amateur Championship where he was the only golfer out of 143 to shoot under 70 in all four rounds (68-67-63-64), winning by nine strokes. He was the youngest golfer to ever win the event and set a scoring record at 18-under par.
 
Papayoanou's other win came at the Insperity Invitational/Patrick Reed AJGA Junior Championship in June 2021, leading the field of 43 by four strokes with a score of 72-69-71.
 
In 2022, Papayoanou qualified for and played in the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship thanks to a 68 shot at Magnolia Creek Golf Club in League City, Texas.
 
"It doesn't take long to see that Alex is a special talent," Kirakossian said. "He has a powerful swing and strong ball flight that has been developed growing up in Houston, Texas. Alex has competed in the biggest junior tournaments and has a deep level of experience and success competing against the best players in the country on a regular basis. He will be well prepared for the transition to college golf, and we can't wait to have him competing in the Blue and Gold." 
 
Papayoanou has competed in major tournaments in his early amateur career, yielding top 10 results in 2021 at The Junior PLAYERS Championship (5th/78 at TPC Sawgrass), The PING Invitational (9th/72 at Karsten Creek), and the Arnold Palmer Invitational (6th/78). He went on to earn 2021 Rolex Junior Honorable Mention All-American honors.
 
Papayoanou's high school competition was highlight by nine Texas 6A victories.