‘Eaters return to top

MISSION VIEJO — About the only obstacle between UC Irvine’s John Chin and the Big West Conference individual men’s golf title was Chin.

The senior played through leg cramps in the second round Monday and scrambled from an at times wayward driving game on Tuesday to claim his second conference title by nine shots after a one-under-par 71 at Mission Viejo Country Club. Chin’s seven-under performance (68-70-71 — 209) for the 54-hole tournament fueled the Anteaters toward their sixth Big West team title since 2001 and first since 2008.

UCI finished the two-day event at nine-over 873, 17 shots ahead of Pacific (26-over 890). Junior Shaun O’Meara, son of two-time major winner Mark O’Meara, tied for fourth at three-over (75-70-74 — 219), junior Max Greil tied for sixth at five-over (71-75-75 — 221), freshman Jerry He tied for 14th at eight-over (74-73-77 — 224) and junior Bryan Harris tied for 41st at 28-over (83-79-82 — 244) for the ‘Eaters.

UCI automatically qualifies for the NCAA regional. Pairings will be announced at 3 p.m. Monday.

The Anteaters entered the final round with a 15-shot lead on Pacific and finished with the best team score (nine-over 297) for the round on a course that gave players a stern challenge.

Only two of 45 players finished under par Tuesday — Chin and UC Riverside’s Andrew Patipaksiri, brother of UCI women’s golfer Lalita Patipaksiri, who also shot 71.

“The course was tougher today. It was windier [at the start] and the greens were faster,” said Chin, a two-time conference Golfer of the Year, who had six bogeys, five birdies (three on the back nine) and an eagle (also on the back) in the final round.

Chin said he felt “tight” Tuesday after a night of icing his legs following severe leg cramps on the 12th hole in Monday’s second round. Teams played 36 holes Monday and 18 Tuesday. Chin hit a three-wood and, upon impact, his left leg cramped.

“It was the worst pain I’ve felt in my life,” Chin said. “I laid there five minutes and when I [walked] to my ball, my right leg gave out. I thought, ‘I do not want to withdraw.’ ”

Chin kept on and finished one-over for the final six holes Monday. He tried to stay hydrated by drinking fluids but called the cramps a blessing.

“If anything, it was a good thing,” Chin said. “I could play golf and not worry about the little things.”

He said walking was “OK” for the final 18 holes, but called his ball striking “really bad.”

“Putting was the key [Tuesday],” Chin said.

His approach shots and chipping also helped. Chin hit his approach to within two-and-a-half feet of the flag and one-putted the par-four fifth.

Then on the par-five eighth, from the left rough, Chin’s second shot landed short of the green. With a generous amount of green between he and the flag, Chin chipped to about two-and-a-half feet and sank the putt.

But it was the eagle on the 497-yard, par-five 14th hole that Chin said “turned the round around.” From 242 yards, Chin hit his second to three feet and made the ensuing eagle putt.

“He’s got distance and short game,” said He, Chin’s teammate. “He manages the game well during tough course conditions.”

O’Meara, playing in the group ahead of Chin, made birdie from the greenside bunker on 14 after a birdie on the par-three 13th.

UCI Coach Paul Smolinski said his team didn’t talk about going into the final round with a 15-shot lead. He acknowledged the possibility of teams creeping back into contention.

“We came back and won [the Anteater Invitational in February] after being down [14] shots,” Smolinski said.

No comebacks were needed today for UCI, only celebrations for a team at a course Smolinski worked at as an assistant professional from 1989 to 1994.

“The key reason why we win tournaments is we keep a good attitude and have fun,” He said.