UC Irvine Anteater Invitational
Dates: Feb. 11-12, 2019 (Monday-Tuesday)
Location: Big Canyon Country Club - Newport Beach, Calif.
Par/Yardage: Par 72 - 7,024 yards
Live Scoring: Golfstat.com

Round 1 Tee Times // UC Irvine Notes (PDF)

IRVINE, Calif. - The UC Irvine men's golf team kicks off the 2019 spring season at home as it hosts the Anteater Invitational at Big Canyon Country Club in Newport Beach, Feb. 11-12. The tournament will be played on the par-72 course that measures 7,024 yards. Two rounds are scheduled for Monday, while the final 18 holes will be contested on Tuesday. Tee times are slated to start at 7:30 a.m. on both days.
 
Joining the 'Eaters in a 10-team field are Cal Poly, Cal State Fullerton, CSUN, Central Arkansas, Grand Canyon, Santa Clara, Seattle U, UC Santa Barbara and Washington State. Live scoring will be available on Golfstat.com.

STORYLINES
• UCI's 5-count-4 lineup consists of Ramiz Jamal, Anthony Truong, Jonathan Kang, Parker Lestz and Nathan Irwin.
• Matt Gunson, Chris Casey and Ethan Han (collegiate debut) will also be playing as individuals.
• This is the 36th time UC Irvine will host the Anteater Invitational, but first since 2016.
• Juniors Ramiz Jamal (72.43) and Anthony Truong (72.44) led the 'Eaters in three fall tournaments.
• Jamal notched his first collegiate top-10 finish at the Nick Watney Invitational where he was eighth at 5-under 211.
• Truong also had his best showing in Fresno where he carded a 215 (-1) to tie for 19th.
• Junior Jonathan Kang had an impressive outing at the Visit Stockton Pacific Invitational where he tied for 11th.
• Kang started with back-to-back rounds of 69 and finished with a career-best 5-under 208.
• UC Irvine won the program's eighth Big West championship in 2018, which is tops among all active league members.
• The Anteaters lost five seniors to graduation following the 2017-18 campaign, but have reloaded with six new players.
 
LAST TIME OUT
• In its fall finale, UC Irvine tied for 13th at the Visit Stockton Pacific Invitational (Oct. 25-27).
• Jonathan Kang led the way with his best tournament of the fall as he tied for 11th at 5-under 208 (69-69-70).
• Anthony Truong (74-69-74) and Matt Gunson (70-73-74) tied for 47th with a three-round total of 217.
 
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.
 
BIG WEST FLASHBACK
• The 'Eaters, who were seeded seventh, pulled off an epic 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).
 
UP NEXT
• UC Irvine returns to action next week when it heads to Lihue, Kauai, for the John A. Burns Intercollegiate, Feb. 21-23.
• The tournament will be held at Wailua Golf Course, the same site of the 2019 Big West Championships.