Facility bolsters UCF golf programs

The practice facility that the men’s and women’s golf teams utilize isn’t the reason both programs experienced success this spring.

In and of itself, the facility, which is located just down the road at Twin Rivers Golf Club in Oviedo, isn’t the reason talented recruits for both teams enrolled at UCF last summer, why the women’s team looks primed to ascend the collegiate rankings within the next few years or why the men’s team was tied for sixth place after the first round of play at the NCAA Championship on Tuesday.

No, coaching probably has something to do with that. The cultivation of a winning culture within both programs probably plays a role, too.

But the fact that the two teams share their own little oasis of golfer’s nirvana on the far end of Twin Rivers’ driving range sure doesn’t hurt.

“You look at this – this is beautiful,” head coach Bryce Wallor said last week before his team left for California. “Our booster group has been outstanding.”

The facility features a teaching building, constructed in the spring of 2009, a driving range and a customized, six-acre “short-game area,” complete with putting greens. The putting greens each feature a different type of grass to prepare the teams for different courses. The teaching building boasts a lounge area and a video system used to analyze player’s swings.

“They’ve built us the facilities necessary for us to succeed, for us to recruit and then for us to get better on a week-to-week basis,” Wallor said. “We’re very fortunate.”

Just as important as what the facility actually has is its proximity.

The golf club is just more than four miles from campus, which is less than a 10-minute drive.

“It’s perfect; it’s just for us,” sophomore Jose Joia said. “We can come here any time we want: after class, before class — it’s just perfect.”

Again, the practice facility probably isn’t the reason women’s golf head coach Courtney Trimble’s program broke the top 40 in the rankings this past season, or the reason Wallor’s program is in contention for a national title.

But, seeing as it reflects the athletics department’s commitment to facilities, it sure can’t hurt.

No. 20 Knights end first round tied for sixth at Riviera

The No. 20 UCF Knights held their own on the first day of stroke play at the NCAA Championship, being played at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, Calif.

UCF finished the day tied for sixth place at 290 (6). The Knights finished tied with No. 25 Iowa, No. 19 FSU, No. 1 Texas and No. 11 UNF.

Sophomore Greg Eason led the way, individually, carding a 71 (E) and tying for 13th place. Three UCF golfers were in the top 30 after the first day, with Ricardo Gouveia and Joia both tying for 27th at 72 (1).

“This is a championship event and a championship golf course,” Wallor said in a release. “We handled it very well.”

The results from Wednesday’s second round were not available at the time of press. Stroke play wraps up Thursday, and the top eight teams at the end of the day will move on to match play on Friday through Sunday.