This Week in WAC Men's Golf - Oct. 28
This Week in WAC Men's Golf - Oct. 28
Complete Release (PDF)
TICKETSMARTER WAC MEN'S GOLFER OF THE WEEK ANNOUNCED
Utah Valley's Caden Weber has been named TicketSmarter Western Athletic Conference Men's Golfer of the Week for October 20 through October 26.
Weber, a junior from Peoria, Ariz., was the top finishing WAC golfer at the Hoakalei Invitational, tying for fourth place with a 4-under-par 212. He used a 5-under-par 67 in the opening round to set himself up for his second top-10 finish of the season, shooting a 1-over-par 73 in the second round and an even-par 72 in the final round to secure a career-best standing. As a team, the Wolverines tied with Grand Canyon for fourth among 15 teams.
Other nominees: Grand Canyon's Matteo Cristoni jumped 11 spots in the final round, using a 2-under-par 70 to tie for 12th with an even-par 216 at the Hoakalei Invitational in Hawaii.
ON THE TEE
Just two tournaments remain in the fall schedule as Lamar is in The Bahamas this weekend for the White Sands Invitational in Nassau. In November's only tournament, Seattle U heads to Poppy Hills in Pebble Beach, Calif. for the St. Mary's Invitational.
BY THE NUMBERS
Sam Houston's Chad Sewell leads the WAC in stroke average at 69.5 per round. NM State's Aidan Thomas and CBU's Eeli Kujanpaa are tied for second at 71.4. As a team, SHSU is the leader at 285.3 strokes per round. California Baptist is second at 290.5 and NM State is third at 290.6
UPPING THE COMPETITION
The WAC will be in a unique situation this season with two teams having earned automatic qualifications to NCAA Regionals in May. NM State will be the defending WAC champions, having won the 2021 Championship by just one stroke at Boulder Creek GC. Sam Houston also earned an automatic selection after winning the Southland Conference Championship by 10 strokes over Lamar. The Bearkats then placed fourth at the NCAA Stillwater Regional to earn a spot at the NCAA Championship in Scottsdale, where SHSU tied for ninth in the team standings.
IT'S BIGGER IN TEXAS (AND UTAH)
On Jan. 14, the WAC announced the addition of five new schools in the upcoming years. Abilene Christian, Lamar, Sam Houston, Stephen F. Austin and Southern Utah were all offered and accepted membership invitations. With the addition, the WAC now has six schools in Texas, more than any other conference in the country, and will have three schools in Utah, also a national best. The four Texas schools joined the league on July 1, 2021 and Southern Utah will follow 365 days later, officially joining the WAC on July 1, 2022. More recently, Tarleton announced this fall its intention to revive men's golf, beginning in fall of 2022.
WAC CHAMPIONSHIP BACK IN NEVADA
For the second straight season, the 2022 WAC Men's Golf Championship will be played at Boulder Creek Golf Club in Boulder City, Nev. Made up of three nine-hole courses, the course is considered by many to be one of the top municipal golf courses in the country. Scenic vistas, cool creeks, colorful wildflowers, and smooth beach bunkers add to the lure of this unique golf course.