UCLA Men's Golf Signs Josh Kim, Tyler Loree
November 13, 2024 | Men's Golf
LOS ANGELES – The UCLA men's golf program has signed high school standouts Josh Kim and Tyler Loree to grants-in-aid (GIA), as announced by Bruins' head coach Armen Kirakossian on Wednesday. Both high school seniors will enroll at UCLA as freshmen in 2025-26.
Loree, who attends Seabury Hall High School on the island of Maui (Hawai'i), was crowned as the Maui Interscholastic League (MIL) Champion in 2023 and 2024. In addition, he was the 2024 HHSAA Hawaii High School State Golf Champion. Kim, who hails from Danville, Calif., has twice secured Rolex Junior All-America acclaim (2023 and 2024).
"We are really excited to be adding both Tyler and Josh to our program," UCLA head coach Armen Kirakossian said. "Throughout this process, Tyler Loree has really caught my attention with his relentless work ethic. He is constantly working to get better. He asks good questions and you can really see that he's always trying to improve his game. He wants to maximize his game and we feel that those are the types of guys who play well and make it in this sport. Golf is a tough game with so many ups and downs, and Tyler is a young man who really perseveres through those things. We can't wait to have him join us, as we feel that he will be a perfect fit for our team."
Last spring, Loree secured his second straight MIL championship after posting rounds scores of 65-75-70-75 (under-285) at the Waiehu Municipal, Royal Kaanapali, King Kamehameha and Makena courses over two weekends. He has registered four top-five finishes in AJGA events and earned 2022 Junior All-Star team member acclaim. Loree earned his first AJGA win in the spring of 2022 (AJGA Presented by Golf+) with a bogey-free 69 in the final round. He finished with 10 birdies and one eagle over 54 holes to win the event by two strokes.
Kim attends De La Salle High School (Concord, Calif.), where he captured the CIF/NCGA NorCal Boys' High School individual title last spring (par-72 Berkeley Country Club). In addition, he won the 2024 Bubba Conlee Junior Invitational Championship. He finished 5-over 221 at the Bubba Conlee Junior Invitational round scores of 74-75-72, finishing two strokes in the lead over a pair of second-place competitors.
"Josh Kim has established himself as a high-level player, not just in California, but across the country," Kirakossian said. "He has played very well, nationally, in junior golf from a young age. I've been really impressed with his poise and his demeanor. He carries himself very well and he's proven that he can be a great player. For him to sign with UCLA is also very special, as he gets to follow in his dad's footsteps. His dad graduated from UCLA, and now Josh has the opportunity to play golf at UCLA. He can make a huge impact on this team. With Josh's skills, he is right up there with anybody in the country. He hits it very straight and he's very consistent. He's shot really solid scores, and I know that he will be a great fit with our program at UCLA."
In 2023, Kim earned multiple accolades with the AJGA. He was the 2023 AJGA Will Lowery Junior Champion and secured AJGA Wyndham Cup All-West Team accolades. He finished in second place at the 2023 AJG Wyndham Invitational and was third at the 2023 Silicon Valley Men's Amateur. He posted three top 10 finishes in AJGA Invitationals and five top-five performances in AJGA Open Tournaments.
Kim qualified for the 2024 U.S. Junior Amateur at Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield Hills, Mich. In addition, he qualified for the Boys Junior PGA Championship in 2022, 2023 and 2024.
