THE SAINT MARY'S INVITATIONAL
Dates: Nov. 6-8, 2017 (Monday-Wednesday)
Location: Poppy Hills Golf Course - Pebble Beach, Calif.
Par/Yardage: Par 71 - 7,002 yards
Host: Saint Mary's
Live Scoring: Golfstat.com
 
IRVINE, Calif. - The UC Irvine men's golf team is set for its fourth and final tournament of the 2017 fall season as it travels to Pebble Beach for The Saint Mary's Invitational, Nov. 6-8.
 
The three-day, 54-hole tournament will take place at Poppy Hills Golf Course. One round will be contested each day with tee times on Holes 1 and 10 starting at 7:30 a.m.
 
UCI is part of a strong 18-team field that features seven programs ranked among the top-50 in the nation according to Golfstat.com. The 'Eaters will be joined by No. 13 Stanford, No. 20 Santa Clara, No. 21 Colorado State, No. 24 BYU, No. 33 USC, No. 46 Arizona, No. 50 Saint Mary's (host), Fresno State, Nevada, Oregon State, San Diego State, San Francisco, Texas State, Toledo, UC Santa Barbara, UT Arlington and Washington State.
 
THE COURSE
Poppy Hills became the first course to be owned and operated by a golf association in the United States when the Northern California Golf Association built it to serve as its headquarters and tournament home. Opened on June 1, 1986, the Robert Trent Jones Jr. design has since co-hosted the PGA Tour's AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, the Spalding Pebble Beach Invitational and the 1991 NCAA Men's Championships.
 
Poppy Hills Golf Course underwent an extensive renovation beginning in March of 2013. Jones returned to Poppy Hills with his design firm, this time creating a firm, fast and fun course that unfolds seamlessly through the stunning Del Monte Forest.
 
THE LINEUP
UC Irvine's lineup for the SMC Invitational will include David Kim, Jonathan Young, Ryan O'Connor, Jonathan Kang and Ramiz Jamal.
 
LIVE SCORING
Live scoring can be found at golfstat.com.
 
KIM NAMED BIG WEST GOLFER OF THE MONTH
Senior David Kim was named the Big West Men's Golfer of the Month for October the conference office announced on Thursday, Nov. 2. In three tournaments, Kim notched a pair of top-20 finishes with his best showing at the Bill Cullum Invitational where he fired a 7-under 209. He recorded three consecutive under-par rounds at 71, 70 and 68 to earn runner-up status. Through the first month of the season, he is tops on the squad with a 71.67 stroke average and was at under-par scoring in five of nine rounds played, including three in the 60s.
 
LAST TIME OUT
UC Irvine dropped five spots on the final day of the Visit Stockton Pacific Invitational to finish in a tie for 15th with Boise State at 873. No. 22 Santa Clara won the team title with a 54-hole total of 834, which was four strokes ahead of runner-up and 29th-ranked BYU.
 
Senior David Kim, who had an eagle and 11 birdies, tied for 18th at 3-under 213 (72-68-73). Junior Ramiz Jamal notched his best showing of the year as he tied for 35th. Jamal carded a three-round score of 216 (69-75-72). His 69 in the first round was a career best. Senior Ryan O'Connor was 72nd at 223 (74-74-75), while sophomore Jonathan Kang was 79th at 225 (74-72-79). Senior Jonathan Young rounded out the Anteater contingent in 86th place (226).
 
BYU's Patrick Fishburn (203) was individual medalist by one stroke over Tom Vining of South Dakota.
 
NEWS AND NOTES
Through three tournaments, senior David Kim leads the 'Eaters with 34 birdies and a 71.67 scoring average.
 
Kim has shot a 70 or better in four of the nine rounds he has played. He recorded a season-best 67 (-4) through the first 18 holes of the Nick Watney Invitational, which stood as the second-best round of the tournament.
 
Kim also earned his 13th career top-10 finish with a second-place performance at the Bill Cullum Invitational. He notched a 54-hole total of 7-under 209 (71-70-68).

Junior Ramiz Jamal had his best finish of the season at the Visit Stockton Pacific Invitational where he was 35th at even-par 216. He shot a career-best 69 in the first round.
 
Senior Jonathan Young notched back-to-back rounds of 2-under 70 to tie for 21st at the Bill Cullum Invitational.
 
Senior Ryan O'Connor was the Anteaters' co-leader at the Nick Watney Invitational where he recorded a 223 to tie for 30th. O'Connor carded a season-best 73 in the third round to jump 14 spots in the standings on the final day.
 
Head coach Paul Smolinski is in his 20th year at the helm of the UCI men's golf program and the long-time coach has a veteran squad this year with eight returners, including four seniors.
 
David Kim is coming off an impressive 2016-17 campaign where he earned an NCAA Regional berth and was named the Big West Player of the Year. He was tops on the team with a 71.28 average, and placed among the top-10 in eight tournaments.
 
Ryan O'Connor (74.03), Jonathan Young (74.23), and sophomore Jonathan Kang (74.23) each added a top-10 finish last year.
 
Also back for the 'Eaters are senior Johnny Hyun (76.60), and juniors Ramiz Jamal (73.67), Jefferson Kao (76.67) and Chris Parkinson (75.67).
 
UP NEXT
UC Irvine returns to action in 2018 when it kicks off the spring segment of its schedule at the Waves Challenge, hosted by Pepperdine, Jan. 29-30.