Wyoming Cowboy Classic
Dates: March 31-April 1 (Monday-Tuesday)
Location: Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club
Par/Yardage: Par 72, 7,337 yards

IRVINE, Calif. - UC Irvine men's golf heads to Maricopa, Arizona, for the Wyoming Cowboy Classic, March 31-April 1. The par-72 course at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club will be played at 7,337 yards. Thirty-six holes are scheduled for Monday, while the final round will be contested on Tuesday. Both days are slated for a 7:30 a.m. shotgun start.

UCI is part of a 23-team field that includes No. 27 Long Beach State, No. 35 San Diego, No. 42 USC, No. 50 Grand Canyon, No. 51 Kansas, No. 63 Cincinnati, No. 65 Iowa State, No. 66 Pacific, No. 70 Saint Mary's, No. 88 Arkansas State, Cal State Fullerton, Gonzaga, Northern Colorado, Southern Utah, Utah State, Utah Valley, Air Force, UT Arlington, Wichita State, CSUN, Weber State, and host No. 93 Wyoming. 

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

LAST TIME OUT
UC Irvine is coming off a third-place finish at the UC San Diego Invitational at Torrey Pines, March 23-25. Jack Yu led the Anteaters in a tie for fourth with a 54-hole score of 220 (74-75-71). He had two eagles and a birdie to come in at 1-under in the final round. It was Yu's first top-10 finish of the season. Rei Harashima tied for 10th at 222 (78-72-72), while Tommy Lin tied for 28th with a total of 227 (82-72-73). Jason Tang (228) tied for 33rd and Owen Davis-Piger (232) tied for 65th.

SETTING THE TONE
Junior Rei Harashima owns a team-best seven sub-70 rounds through seven tournaments. He also has three top-10 showings, placing eighth at the Visit Stockton Pacific Invitational (69-68-69), and tying for 10th at both the Orange County Collegiate Classic (76-69-74) and UCSD Invitational. 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 owns a 72.43 stroke average this season.

RAMPING UP
Junior Yaoting Zou has come in below par in both of his tournaments this year. He made his season debut at the Van Harte Orange County Collegiate Classic where he carded a 1-under 215 (73-73-71) to place fifth overall. Zou was then UCI's top finisher at the Wyoming Desert Intercollegiate at 2-under 214 (70-71-73).

GOING LOW
As a team, the Anteaters have come in below par in three tournaments this season. Individually, 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 be back in action, April 14-16, when it makes its way to Pasatiempo Golf Club for the Western Intercollegiate.