A decade ago, the Bruins won their only NCAA title, and now, 10 years later, third year coach Brad Sherfy has the Bruins pointed toward a championship foundation once more.

Steadily, the Bruins have improved under Sherfy's guidance. Last year's developement of key veterans and the emergence of a talented recruiting class propelled the Bruins to a sixth place finish at the NCAA West Regionals and vaulted them into the NCAA Tournament after a four-year absence.

Junior second team All-Pac-10 member Brandon DiTullio emerged last season as one of the region's top young players. DiTullio paced the Bruins in scoring average (74.3), a remarkable three stroke improvement from his first season. DiTullio, whose father Jerry played golf for the Bruins from 1968-71, fired eight rounds under par last season, including two career best rounds of 67. He also recorded four top 10 and seven top 20 finishes to lead the team.

"Brandon's improvement resembles that of our team," said Sherfy. "He worked hard on his game in the offseason and it paid off. He will be our leader this season, but he'll have plenty of competition."

Competition in the form of junior B.J. Schlagenhauf and sophomore Jason Semelsberger. Schlagen-hauf's five-under par score at the NCAA West Regionals paced the Bruins to a tie for sixth place. His scoring average of 75.1, included nine rounds of par or better and two top 10 finishes.

Semelsberger, who pos-ted a 75.4 scoring average, won the UCLA-hosted Pavin/Pioneer Classic, his first collegiate title. Following the NCAAs, he returned to earn co-medalist honors in U.S. Open Sectional Qualifying at El Caballero Country Club. At the U.S. Open he posted a 14-over par total of 154.

"Jason probably gained more experience (in two rounds) at the U.S. Open than he will in all his years at UCLA," said Sherfy. "He'll be a much improved and confident player this season."

Semelsberger's U.S. Open participation allows him exemptions into the U.S. Amateur, where he advanced to the first round of match play, the Western Amateur and the Southern California Amateur.

Sophomore Steve Wagner completes the ladder of returning competitors who participated at the NCAAs. He will give the Bruins a solid fourth player. Sophomore Michael Vera, who played 28 competitive rounds as a true freshman, received the most experience last season of the remaining returnees.

Wagner ended the season on a positive note, firing a two-under par 69 in the second round of the NCAAs. His 36-hole total of 145 finished in a tie for 31st prior to the cut. Wagner played his best golf at season's end, firing firing five rounds under par and two at par in his last seven events.

"Steve improved throughout the season and peaked at the end," said Sherfy. "We're hoping that momentum carries into the 1997 season."

Vera finished ninth at the Pioneer/Pavin Classic, his best outing of the season. He recorded three rounds of par or better during the season.

Senior Eddy Lee has played 58 career collegiate rounds, highlighted by a career best 34 in his freshman season. A big year from Lee not only gives the Bruins experienced depth, but competition for the returning veterans.

Topping a list of four incoming players is Parker McLachlin, who won Hawaii's amateur "Triple Crown" in the summer of 1996: the Hawaiian State Open, the Hawaiian PGA Maxfli and the Maui Invitational. His victory in the Hawaiian PGA Maxfli event qualified him for the PGA Maxfli Jr. National Championship, where he finished fourth.

The Bruins also welcome the services of redshirt freshman Jeff McGraw, a transfer from Nevada-Las Vegas. McGraw finished seventh at the 1993 Junior World and lettered four years in golf at Servite High.

Freshman Justin Kim, who finished third in the 1997 Korean Open Qualifying at the California Country Club, completes a talented list of recruits.