Nick Watney Invitational
Dates: Oct. 1-2, 2018 (Monday-Tuesday)
Location: Dragonfly Golf Club - Madera, Calif.
Par/Yardage: Par 72 - 7,390 yards
Host: Fresno State
Live Scoring: Golfstat.com

UC Irvine Notes (PDF) // Season Preview Video

IRVINE, Calif. - The UC Irvine men's golf team kicks off the 2018-19 season at the Nick Watney Invitational, Oct. 1-2. Thirty-six holes will be contested on Monday before the players are regrouped for the final round on Tuesday. Both days are slated for a shotgun start at Dragonfly Golf Club in Madera. The par-72 course will be played at 7,390 yards.
 
The Anteaters are part of a 12-team field that also features BYU, Cal Poly, CSUN, Gonzaga, Nevada, Pacific, Sacramento State, Seattle, UC Riverside, UC Santa Barbara and host Fresno State. UCI's 5-count-4 lineup consists of Anthony Truong, Ramiz Jamal, Jonathan Kang, Matt Gunson and Nathan Irwin.
 
STORYLINES
• Three players will be making their Anteater debut, including true freshmen Matt Gunson and Nathan Irwin.
• This is the third year in a row the 'Eaters will be competing in the Nick Watney Invitational.
• UC Irvine won the program's eighth Big West championship in 2018, which is tops among all active league members.
• The Anteaters advanced to NCAA Regional play for the 11th time in the last 18 years.
• UCI's top-two returners are juniors Ramiz Jamal (75.00) and Jonathan Kang (75.10).
• The 'Eaters lost five seniors to graduation following the 2017-18 campaign, but have reloaded with six new players.
• UC Irvine will host a tournament for the first time since 2016, opening the spring season with the Anteater Invitational.
 
BIG WEST FLASHBACK
• The 'Eaters, who were seeded seventh, pulled off a major upset by claiming the 2018 Big West title.
• They put together their three best rounds of the year to edge No. 1 seed UC Davis at 12-under 852 (284-285-283).
• Jonathan Kang finished fifth at the 2018 conference championship with a season-best 4-under 212 (69-71-72).
• Kang was recognized for his performance as he received All-Big West honorable mention distinction.
• Ramiz Jamal also tied for 11th at even-par 216 (71-75-70).
 
MEET THE NEWCOMERS
• Anthony Truong is a junior transfer from Arizona State where he competed in nine tournaments.
• Truong had a low collegiate round of 66 at the 2017 ASU Thunderbird Invitational.
• Junior Chris Casey played two seasons at Orange Coast College.
• Casey helped the Pirates to a conference title and a third-place finish at the CCCAA State Championships in 2018.
• Freshman Matt Gunson was a three-time CIF Southern Divisional qualifier at Beckman High School.
• Freshmen Nathan Irwin and Parker Lestz were teammates at Loyola High School.
• They were both members of the team that claimed the 2017 CIF title and won multiple league championships.
• Freshman Ethan Han was a three-time league MVP at Brea Olinda High School.
 
QUOTABLES
Coach Smolinski on his expectations for the fall season: "Considering the fall tournaments mean as much as the spring events in terms of season rankings, we hope to get off to a fast start and be competitive immediately. That being said, we have six new players, the most we have ever had,  which makes it difficult to predict how competitive we will actually be in the fall. Ramiz Jamal and Jonathan Kang are the returners we hope to be on-form early. We also have two transfers, Chris Casey and Anthony Truong, who have some college tournament experience that should help make their transition to UC Irvine a bit easier."
 
UP NEXT
• UCI is back in action Oct. 15-16, when it heads to Wood Ranch Golf Club (Simi Valley) for the Bill Cullum Invitational.