UCI Recognized in Golf World's College Preview Issue

Sept. 3, 2009

IRVINE, Calif. --- UC Irvine senior John Chin is named as one of the "Top 50 Players to Watch" this season in Golf World's annual College Preview issue.

Chin has been voted the Big West Conference Player of the Year the past two seasons and he was medalist at the 2008 league tournament.

He led UCI with a stroke average of 71.39 and posted six top-10 finishes last season.

Coach Paul Smolinski's Anteaters received two votes in the Golf World/Nike Golf Coaches' Top 25 preseason poll and was the only Big West school recognized. Oklahoma State, Washington and Georgia are 1-2-3 in the rankings.

Senior Tim Cha returns for UCI after sitting out as a redshirt last year. He was named to the All-Big West first team as a junior in 2008 and he competed at the U.S. Amateur Championship that summer, as did Chin.

Sophomore Roberto Francioni was named co-Freshman of the Year in the Big West last season.

UCI opens the 2009-10 season in the UTA/Waterchase Invitational at Waterchase Golf Club in Fort Worth, Tex., Sept. 21-22.