UCLA Edges Stanford to Win NCAA Golf Title

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - UCLA, fueled by a solid four-day performance by Kevin Chappell, captured the NCAA Men's Division I Golf Championship this weekend at Purdue University.

The Pac 10 dominated the tournament, as UCLA fought off a hard-charging Stanford Cardinal team, the defending national champion, and favorite Southern California in the final round to capture the title.

The Bruins won with a total score of 1,194 (+42), a single stroke over Stanford and two strokes over USC. Officials said UCLA's win was the slimmest margin of victory since 1988.

"This hasn't set in yet," UCLA coach Derek Freeman said about the Bruins first Division I national golf championship. "I started out as a volunteer assistant at Oklahoma City University and they gave me the opportunity and five years later I'm here at UCLA and it's just incredible. I did this for my father. I know he's looking down on me and he's happy."

Stanford came roaring back into contention after a 12th place finish in the first round. The Cardinal shot a team-best 288 in the second round to improve to eighth place and came into the final found in fourth place. UCLA tied for first after the first round and never dropped lower than second place over the course of the tournament.

Chappell was the only golfer to go under par for the tournament with a 2-under 286. Another Pac 10 golfer, Nick Taylor, of Washington, was second with a 1-over 289, tied with Indiana's Campillo. Pre-tournament favorite Rickie Fowler, of Oklahoma State, tied for fourth with Sihwan Kim, of Stanford, with a 6-over 294.

Defending individual national champion Jamie Lovemark struggled the entire tournament and finished tied for 43rd place at 19-over, 307.

Freeman said in the final holes Chappell's play that made the difference for UCLA.

"In the end, you want the pressure to be on your top guy," Freeman said. "You want them to be able to handle it and he did. He hit an unbelievable drive on 18 and then he hit a shot right behind the pin that almost went in. We're so proud of him. I told him to just trust his shot, and we picked a good target and he hit a good shot."

Chappell said the windy conditions Saturday made it difficult and said he was fortunate to overcome the conditions.

"The wind was kind of a curveball," Chappell said. "You didn't know what to expect and you didn't know what lines to take. I really struggled hitting my tee ball onto the fairway, and it was tough making birdies. You just fight through it and deal with it because everyone had to deal with it."

Oklahoma State, behind Fowler, finished fourth, six strokes behind UCLA, and Clemson was fifth, one stroke behind Oklahoma State. Kent State was the highest finishing mid-major team with a sixth place finish.

"It was a battle and it wears you out mentally," said Kent State coach Herb Page. "I'm just proud of my team. They just played awesome all week. It's the best we've ever done in the NCAA. They just grinded all day long. This golf course is the winner for the week."