The Bruins — UCLA won its second straight tournament—the 49er Collegiate Classic, Nov. 6-7, at the Virginia CC— with a three-shot victory over 15 other West and Southwest schools.

The Bruins shot a season best 280 in the second round to take a four shot lead into the final round where they shot 285 and finished with a season best score of 848. Three players — B.J. Schlagenhauf, Eddy Lee and Ross Fulgentis — finished among the top 10 individuals. The Bruins also posted a three-shot victory at the Fresno Lexus Classic, Oct. 24-25. UCLA led wire-to-wire, posting a one-under par 287 in the first round en route to a 14-over par total of 878. Four players — Brandon DiTullio, Steve Wagner, Fulgentis and Jason Semelsberger — finished among the top 20 individuals. In three other Fall tournaments, the Bruins have recorded top 10 finishes: 4th at the Reliaster Invitational, 5th at the Pacific Invitational and 9th at the Nike Northwest Classic. In the Nov. 5 MasterCard rankings, which do not include the 49er Clasic results, the Bruins were ranked 10th.

The Players — Junior B.J. Schlagenhauf owns the team’s top stroke average at 71.4. In the latest GolfStat poll, he was ranked 10th nationally. His second place finish at the Reliaster event was his best in a collegiate event. At the 49er Collegiate Classic, he finished with a career best 54-hole score of 210, featuring two rounds under 70. At the Pacific Invite, he finished 10th with a second round, three-under par 69. At the Nike tournament, he placed 4th, sparked by a first round 69. Eight of his 15 rounds this season are under par, including a four-under par total of 212 at the Reliaster event. In August, he won the World Students Golf Championship Pacific Rim Tournament in Tau City, Japan by firing 71-74-69—214 to capture medalist honors by one shot. He also qualified and played in the U.S. Amateur during the summer. Junior Brandon DiTullio has a 72.6 stroke average after finishing second at the Fresno Lexus Classic. After 54 holes he tied for first place with BYU’s Michael Henderson, but lost on the fourth playoff hole. He has carded three rounds under par this season. He also finished in a tie for 13th at the 49er Classic. Last year’s second team All-Pac-10 selection led the Bruins as s sophomore with a 74.3 stroke average—a three stroke improvement from his freshman season. He also led the Bruins with eight rounds under par last year.

Senior Eddy Lee finished in a tie for seventh at the 49er Classic—his best finish since his freshman season. His 54-hole total of 212, also a career best, featured a final round one-under par 69. He also tied for 20th at the Reliaster Invite after carding a first round 68, a career collegiate best. His stroke average of 72.7 is the team’s third best. Sophomore Steve Wagner boasts the team’s fourth best stroke average at 73.6. He recorded his best finish at Fresno, placing in a tie for 16th. He has recorded three rounds under par this season, including a two-under 68 in the second round of the 49er Classic. His first round two-under par 70 was tied for the lead at Fresno.

Redshirt freshman Ross Fulgentis also boasts a 73.6 stroke average after posting a collegiate best finish by tying for 10th at the 49er Classic. His career best 54-hole score of 213, featured a four-under par 66. He also finished in a tie for 15th at Pacific where he shot a two-under par 214. At Fresno, he tied for 18th. He has recorded three rounds under par this year.

Sophomore Jason Semelsberger has a 74.0 stroke average and tied for 17th at the 49er Classic—his best finish of the season. He fired a pair of 71s in the first and third rounds on his way to a 54-hole score of 216. Last Spring, Semelsberger qualified and played as an amateur in the U.S. Open at Congressional. In February of 1997 as a true freshman, he won the Corey Pavin/Pioneer UCLA Classic at Industry Hills.

Freshman transfer Jeff McGraw played in his first tournament at the Pacific Invite. In December, 1996, McGraw tied for first with four players in qualifying for the Buick Open at Torrey Pines before being eliminated in a playoff.

Head Coach Brad Sherfy — Entering his third season as coach of the Bruins, Sherfy, a 1978 UCLA golf All-American, last year guided the Bruins to their first NCAA appearance since 1993. An outstanding player, Sherfy has played in four U.S. Opens, three PGA Championships and won more the 80 events on various satellite tours, He finished in a tie for third at the 1996 PGA Club Professional Championship at PGA West. Sherfy’s 72-hole score of 274 (68-67-65-74) was 14-under par. In 1997, Sherfy played in the San Diego and Nissan Opens.