The UTSA men’s golf team competed in its second spring-season tournament at the Classic Club in Palm Desert, California on Feb. 24 to Feb. 26.
With large water hazards, narrow fairways and elevated tee boxes, the Classic Club course can be challenging. The course’s structure favored the Roadrunners as the team climbed the leaderboard finishing fifth. Though, one player stood out from the rest: sophomore Kaelen Dulany.
Dulany, who showcased an outstanding performance, set the tone for UTSA in the first round of the tournament. The Arkansas transfer secured the second-best score in program history by shooting 7-under par. He also secured the fourth-best 36-hole score recorded after the first two days by a Roadrunner.
“Starting on hole 12, my seventh hole of the day, I birdied it and then just [went on] a run because I was hitting it really well,” Dulany said about his eight-straight first-round birdies. “I knew that if I kept hitting it well the putts would start falling, and it was truly magical to be able to do that.”
The mentality of a golfer must be positive — starting from the first tee box until the last green. Dulany teed off on a par-4 fifth hole and recorded his only double bogey in the first round.
“That was a weird [first day] because I started with a double,” Dulany said about his mindset after a shaky start. “After that, I did a good job of just staying calm and forgetting about it.”
Throughout the three-day competition, Dulany’s consistency on the green played a pivotal role in his performance. With two double bogeys and four bogeys in total, he minimized mistakes by relying on his short game, an area he’s worked hard to refine. His ability to read the green and control his putting stroke allowed him to capitalize on scoring opportunities while avoiding unnecessary errors.
“[The conditions] were really good. The greens were really good, so I putted really well,” Dulany said. “Putting has been the area of the game I have been working on the most. It really paid off this week.”
By the end, Dulany finished even-par in the second and third round. The team will travel to Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida to compete in The Hayt from March 8 to March 10.
