Men's Golf

“Golf is such a great sport because it always tests you. It tests how you respond to expectations, how you respond under pressure. Today was another test. We failed the test. But we have to grow from it,” said head coach Walter Chun.

Though it’s just the second tournament of the season, the Bears’ upcoming event Feb. 15-17 will be chock-full of Pac-12 talent, making it an important early season round.

While Cal didn’t capitalize on the novelty of a new season as a team, freshmen Aaron Du and Sampson Zheng finished first and second, respectively, for the Bears, signaling a new cohesiveness and promising talent for the season ahead.

Though the premature end to last spring’s season of improvement was a blow to Cal men’s golf, the team is working in the offseason to return to form.

Not only did Morikawa set Cal records, but he also became the third-youngest winner of the PGA Championship at just 23 years old — capturing the title at the same age Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and Jack Nicklaus did.

Cal found much needed success in San Diego. Cal’s director of men’s golf Walter Chun uses old stats to highlight the importance of par fives.

The Bears’ focus in the Lamkin San Diego Classic is to start strong and break their habit of poor first rounds. San Diego is home to four of Cal’s golfers.

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Cal’s impressive third round helped the team finish in a three-way tie for seventh place. All four scoring golfers shot under par in the final 18-holes to climb 10 spots.

The Bears travel to Kauai for the three-day, 54-hole John A. Burns Collegiate this week where they will again face high-caliber opponents.