There could be trouble in paradise for the Wildcats.

The UA men’s golf team will begin play today in the John A. Burns Intercollegiate, a three-day tournament hosted by the University of Hawaii in Schofield Barracks, Oahu, Hawaii.

Competition on the golf course won’t be the only thing the team has to worry about while in Hawaii. It will also have plenty of distractions during their  week in the tropical paradise.

“”They take us there a few days early … so we play a couple of other courses and go to the beach a few days before the tournament,”” said senior Bradley Nicholson. “”Once we start playing the practice round and everything we start to realize why we’re there, but there’s plenty of distractions.””

Although some players expressed concern that there might be distraction throughout the week, head coach Rick LaRose quickly dispelled the idea.

“”Every morning we get up at 5 o’clock when it’s pitch dark … by the time we get them fed and to the golf course it’s 7 o’clock and still dark,”” LaRose said. “”You play golf until 4:30 or 5 in the afternoon, then get back to the hotel and it’s dark again … there are just no distractions, there isn’t any time. We sleep, play golf, and eat. That’s all we do.””

The Wildcats are set on continuing their strong play for a second consecutive tournament after finishing only one stroke behind California — the winner of the Arizona Invitational — in UA’s most recent tournament.

Arizona finished third in last year’s John A. Burns Intercollegiate at Leilehua Golf Course. The Wildcats hope their familiarity with the course will give them an advantage in trying to improve in the rankings.

“”It’s not always easy to win, but we’re pretty confident (that we’ll playing well),”” said junior Jonathan Khan, who posted a 3-under-par score of 213 at last year’s event. “”I think everyone’s going to play well … we’re playing well as a team. It should be a fun week.””