After a shaky fall season that fell way below expectations, the Wildcats opened up the spring half determined to show that they are a top contender.

Led by freshman Roberto Galletti and senior Creighton Honeck, the team is in the race for first in the PING-Arizona Intercollegiate Tournament at the Arizona National Golf Club, shooting a collective 8-under-par to hold second place after day one of the two-day tournament.

UA assistant coach John Knauer thought the team played surprisingly well, but there were areas they struggled in and need to improve upon for today’s second round finish and final third round.

“”This is where you want to be, a chance to win,”” Knauer said. “”We’ve done our job.””

Through the first round, the Wildcats shot a 3-under-par, enough to keep them in the tournament as they held onto fourth place. The leader through the first round was not surprisingly, No. 25 Tennessee who shot a 272, 12-under-par.

“”Tennessee was no fluke. They are a top 10 team,”” Knauer said.

The Wildcats continued to play well into the second round, shooting 5-under-par collectively, until play was suspended due to darkness with four holes to play.

The second round will resume today with the Wildcats currently in second place behind Tennessee, who shot a 15-under-par to lead the tournament thus far.

The delay of the second round could provide the Wildcats with a huge boost, as they will have an advantage over the competition because of where they are positioned on the course. Tennessee has to play holes one through five including holes two and three that could be difficult to play early in the morning, Knauer said.

Junior Nick Park, who shot a 1-over-par-71 through the first round, said that finishing round two today is “”going to take more out of what it normally takes because we are going to have to be more patient.””

Galletti took charge of the Wildcats, shooting a 5-under-par, to finish second on the individual scoreboard. Other notable players who helped boost the Wildcats were Honeck, who shot a

3-under-par to finish tied for tenth place and freshman Tarquin MacMannus, who shot a 1-under-par to finish tied in 13th place.

The biggest surprise of the tournament may have been UCLA’s poor performance. The favorite to win the tournament shot 9-over-par as a team, even though their star Kevin Chappell shot a 7-under-par to lead the individual scoreboard.

The tournament will close today after the second and third rounds.