For many college freshmen, the first year on campus and away from home can be bittersweet. The distance from friends and family, the new-found freedoms and the lack of a home-cooked meal can contribute to a difficult transition.

That hasn't been the case with University of San Diego golfer Alex Ching.

The 2008 Punahou graduate hasn't had time for any of those distractions. That's because much of his time has been spent on the golf course, which is the case again this week as the Toreros take part in the 32nd Annual John A. Burns Intercollegiate, starting today at the Leilehua Golf Course.

Ching and his teammates arrived Monday and played a practice round yesterday at Leilehua Golf Course. The 54-hole tournament, which features 17 teams, begins today at the par-72 course in Wahiawa.

"It'll be nice to be home," Ching said Monday before departing from San Diego. "I'm pretty excited about coming back to Hawai'i."

Leilehua should be a familiar course to Ching, who won the Army Amateur there in August of last year.

"I've played a few rounds there, so I feel pretty comfortable there," Ching said.

Aside from the month he spent here during the Christmas break, Ching returned to Hawai'i in November when the Toreros played in the Kaua'i Collegiate Invitational at Puakea Golf Course in Lihu'e. Ching, who just six months prior to that won the state title, shot 11-under par 205 to finish in a tie for fourth.

"I knew he was going to come in and be a pivotal part of the team, but I didn't expect his scoring average to be as low as it was," USD coach Tim Mickelson said. "He's definitely surpassed my expectations, but I'm not surprised at his success."

Mickelson, who is the younger brother of PGA Tour member Phil Mickelson, said he first took notice of Ching as a Punahou freshman.

"I started watching him when he would make trips to the Mainland for tournaments," Mickelson said. "I noticed how he conducted himself on the golf course and over the years, I saw that he had a very good mentality and he knows how to manage his game on the golf course. After spending some time with him, I knew he was the kind of guy we want in our program."

Ching, who won the 100th Manoa Cup last year, played in all five tournaments during the fall season, averaging 71.53 strokes per round. He also finished eighth at the Sycuan Collegiate in October, where he fired a 7-under-par 209.

"It's been going good so far," Ching said. "It was hard at first with all of the traveling and trying to get enough sleep. It was tough to manage because I was constantly busy so there was no time to miss home, but I came home for Christmas break and that was real nice. I spent a lot of time in the ocean."

Mickelson said the rest came at the right time.

"He got a little burnt out in the fall and when he went home, he wasn't practicing as much as he usually does," Mickelson said. "It was good for him to take some time off."

A refreshed Ching will be playing in front of many familiar faces this week.

"He hasn't said anything to me about it, but I'm sure he's very excited to go home and play in front of his family," Mickelson said. "He's going to be very comfortable at a place where he's had a lot of success."

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