UCI revs up; Kite is guest

The UC Irvine men’s golf team will attempt to defend its crown when it hosts the 31st Anteater Invitational Monday and Tuesday at Big Canyon Country Club in Newport Beach.

The ‘Eaters will compete against UCLA, ranked No. 1 in the Golfweek/Sagarin ratings as of Nov. 24, and Big West Conference foes Cal Poly, UC Santa Barbara, Cal State Fullerton, UC Riverside and Cal State Northridge. This will be UCI’s second tournament of the spring season. UCI placed 11th of 16 teams in the Arizona Intercollegiate earlier this week.

Sophomore Jerry He led UCI with a 70 scoring average for two tournaments last fall. Senior Max Greil has a 72.6 average for four tournaments while senior Bryan Harris had a 73.3 average. Greil and Harris each shot 66 for low rounds.

UCI overcame a 14-stroke deficit and defeated Santa Clara in a playoff in last year’s Anteater Invitational.

The UCI women open their spring season Feb. 14-16 in the Northrop Grumman Invitational at Palos Verdes Golf Club in Rancho Palos Verdes. Freshman Ronnie Valerio leads the team with a 74.8 average. Sophomore Michelle Park has a 75.1 average.

Former UCI golfer John Chin received the GolfStat Cup trophy at a UCI basketball game last month.

The awards keep mounting for the 2010 All-American. Chin was the first UCI golfer to earn PING All-American honors and claimed his third conference Golfer of the Year award. He finished first four times, including eight top-5 finishes.

World Golf Hall of Fame member Tom Kite will be the guest at the Toshiba Classic’s Breakfast of Champions, tournament officials announced.

The breakfast begins at 7 a.m. March 8 at the Balboa Bay Club & Resort.

Kite has won 19 PGA Tour events, including the 1992 U.S. Open, and 10 Champions Tour events. Tournament play runs March 11-13 at Newport Beach Country Club.

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BRYCE ALDERTON is the golf writer for the Daily Pilot. He can be reached at balderto78@yahoo.com.