EL MACERO, Calif. – Sophomore Omar Morales won his first collegiate event at the El Macero Classic at El Macero Country Club on Sunday in a one-hole playoff after shooting 13-under over three rounds (69-67-67). The UCLA men’s golf team finished in a tie for fifth at 6-under (283-287-288), eight strokes back of first-place San Diego.
Morales recorded back-to-back career low scores of 5-under 67 in the second and third rounds of the tournament to force a playoff with San Diego’s Andi Xu after finishing in a tie for first in a field of 100 golfers. Morales parred his playoff hole while Xu bogeyed.
Morales was masterful with 16 birdies and one eagle over his 54 holes. His 13-under score is tied for the 10th lowest 54-hole score in relation to par in program history and is the best mark by a Bruin since Devon Bling (2017-22) shot 15-under at the 2018 Jackrabbit Invitational at Boulder Creek Golf Club.
Morales’ medal marks the first individual champion in the Armen Kirakossian era as head coach of UCLA men’s golf program.
As a team, the Bruins are heating up this spring with each of their two under-par team finishes coming over the last three events. UCLA shot 3-under and placed fifth at the Lamkin San Diego Classic.
Senior Mason Greene tied for 23rd at even par (69-76-71). Despite a triple bogey on the par-4 fourth hole, Greene was nearly flawless in round three with four birdies to finish under par for the tournament.
Sophomore Pablo Ereño shot an even-par 72 in all three rounds to tie for 23rd. Ereño birdied five holes on the back nine in round three.
Kyle An tied for 58th (73-72-78) while Ty Griggs tied for 97th (+20, 77-79-80).
UCLA opens postseason play in two weeks at the Pac-12 Championships at Stanford Golf Course in Stanford, Calif. from April 28-30.
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