Wyoming Desert Intercollegiate
Dates: Feb. 24-26 (Monday-Wednesday)
Location: Classic Club - Palm Desert, Calif.
Par/Yardage: Par 72, 7,305 yards

IRVINE, Calif. - The UC Irvine men's golf team returns to action at the Wyoming Desert Intercollegiate in Palm Desert, California, Feb. 24-26. The par-72 course at the Classic Club will be played at 7,305 yards. Eighteen holes are slated for a 9 a.m. shotgun start each day.

UCI is part of a 15-team field that includes California Baptist, Cal State Fullerton, No. 37 Charlotte, No. 89 Coastal Carolina, Colorado Christian, Drake, Northern Iowa, South Dakota State, Tarleton State, UC Riverside, UC Santa Barbara, Utah Tech, UTSA and host Wyoming. No. 34 Colorado and No. 64 New Mexico also have individuals entered in the tournament.

The Anteaters' 5-count-4 lineup features Rei Harashima, Jack Yu, Jason Tang, Tommy Lin and Yaoting Zou.

LAST TIME OUT
UC Irvine finished third at the Vanharte Orange County Collegiate Classic, Feb. 10-11. The Anteaters co-hosted the tournament with team champion Cal State Fullerton at Coto de Caza South Course. UCI recorded a 5-count-4 total of 873 (298-287-288), coming in one stroke behind runner-up UC Riverside and three back of the Titans. Tommy Lin led the 'Eaters as he took fourth at 2-under 214 (73-70-71). Yaoting Zou, who was competing as an individual, also had a career-best fifth-place showing with a 1-under 215 (71-73-71). Jason Tang added a top-10 effort, tying for ninth (73-73-72), while Rei Harashima was one stroke back in a tie for 10th (76-69-74).

SETTING THE TONE
Junior Rei Harashima owns a team-best seven sub-70 rounds through five tournaments. He also has two top-10 showings, placing eighth at the Visit Stockton Pacific Invitational where he came in at 7-under (69-68-69), and tying for 10th at the Orange County Collegiate Classic (76-69-74). Harashima fired a season-best 67 in the second round of a top-20 performance at the Oregon State Invitational and matched that score in the third round of the Ka'anapali Classic on Nov. 4. The two-time All-Big West selection is tops on the squad with a 71.80 stroke average.

GOING LOW
The Anteaters have come in below par in three of their five tournaments. Four players have combined for 15 sub-70 scores, led by seven from Rei Harashima. Freshman Jack Yu also has four rounds in the 60s with a best of 68. Junior JJ Nakao posted two of his three sub-70 rounds at the Ka'anapali Classic, closing out the tournament with a season-best 66. Sophomore Jason Tang added a season-best 69 in his final round of the fall.

SEASON-OPENING WIN
UC Irvine won its season-opening tournament, finishing first in a 12-team field at the Oregon State Invitational at Trysting Tree Golf Club, Oct. 7-8. UCI came from behind to defeat the host Beavers by two strokes. It was the Anteaters' first stroke play tournament victory since winning the Big West Championship in 2018. The 'Eaters also won the Cal Poly Match Play Tournament in 2019. JJ Nakao led UC Irvine at 2-under 211 for a career-best fourth-place showing. 

UP NEXT
UC Irvine will have a three-week layoff before heading to Torrey Pines in La Jolla for the UC San Diego Invitational, March 23-25.