University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
UCLA Men's Golf Adds Transfer Lucas Rizo-Patron
June 18, 2026 | Men's Golf
LOS ANGELES – The UCLA men's golf program has received a signed grant-in-aid agreement (GIA) from rising sophomore Lucas Rizo-Patron, as announced on Thursday by Bruins' head coach Armen Kirakossian.
Rizo-Patron, from Rye, N.Y., will compete as a sophomore for the Bruins in 2026-27 after having excelled as a freshman at Richmond University in 2025-26. Rizo-Patron competed in 12 tournaments for Richmond, recording a scoring average of 72.5. He had a pair of top-10 finishes as a freshman, including the individual medal at the 2026 Atlantic 10 Championship at Evermore Resort in Orlando, Fla.
"We're very fortunate to be adding Lucas Rizo-Patron to the team," Kirakossian said. "I've always said that if we can assemble a group of like-minded people who are pursuing a common goal, then the sky is the limit for our potential. Lucas is certainly one of those guys. He has high aspirations and a strong belief in himself. He really started to find his stride, winning the Atlantic 10 Conference Championship as a freshman. He then shot a second round 65 at the NCAA Regionals. We are excited to watch Lucas continue to develop and make an impact in Westwood."
An All-Atlantic 10 Conference selection, Rizo-Patron shot 13-under 203 at the conference championships in late April, tying for the second-lowest tournament score in Richmond's history. His 6-under 66 score in the final round tied the lowest conference championship round in his school's history. Rizo-Patron helped Richmond secure its first Atlantic 10 team title since 2017.
Rizo-Patron ranked third on the Richmond team in 2025-26 with 12 under par rounds. He shot 2-over 73 at the NCAA Regionals in Winston-Salem, N.C., carding a 6-under 65 in the second round. Rizo-Patron finished in a tie for 37th at the NCAA Regional event, carding 1-over 214 across three rounds (73-65-76).
"I'm super pumped to be playing golf for UCLA," Rizo-Patron said. "Coach Kirakossian and Coach Banger made it feel like home before I even visited. Once I got out to see UCLA's campus and facilities, I knew right away that this is where I need to be. I can't wait to meet all of the guys, as we strive to win a national championship."
Among Rizo-Patron's other freshman season highlights included a T-9th finish at the Donald Ross Collegiate Classic, where he scored 3-under 213 to help Richmond secure the team title (March 9-11). He led Richmond with a T-11th place finish at the Bash in the Boro, carding 4-under 212 before being named the Atlantic 10 Men's Golf Rookie of the Week. In addition, he tied for 14th place in Richmond's season-opening event, the Metropolis Intercollegiate (at Metropolis Country Club in White Plains, N.Y.). He shot 9-over 219 (77-68-74) across the 54-hole tournament in New York.
Prior to enrolling at Richmond University, Rizo-Patron won the Metropolitan Golf Association's Carter Cup Boys' Division title in July 2025. He tied for second place as the low amateur at the 2025 Westchester Open Championship (5-under par). He was the 2024 First Tee Miami Doral Junior Classic champion, and he finished fourth in stroke play at the 122nd Met Amateur Championship in 2024.
Rizo-Patron joins a UCLA program that most recently won its second-consecutive Big Ten Championship in May of 2025, before advancing to the NCAA finals as the runner-up at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, Calif. The Bruins finished in second place out of 13 teams at the NCAA Corvallis Regional and advanced into match play at the NCAA Championships for the first time since 2015.
