This Week in WAC Men's Golf - Oct. 7
This Week in WAC Men's Golf - Oct. 7
Complete Release (PDF)
TICKETSMARTER WAC MEN'S GOLFER OF THE WEEK ANNOUNCED
Sam Houston's Chad Sewell has been named TicketSmarter Western Athletic Conference Men's Golfer of the Week for September 29 through October 6.
Sewell, a senior from Conroe, Texas, posted his third top five finish in as many opportunities, finishing in a tie for fifth place at the Trinity Forest Invitational with a 4-under-par 209. After opening the tournament with a 4-under-par 67 and shooting a 3-over-par 74 in the second round, he finished strong with a 3-under-par 68 to move up eight spots on the final day. On the season, he holds a 70.56 stroke average through nine rounds, ranking second in the WAC.
Other nominees: UT Rio Grande Valley's Lars van der Vight made his collegiate debut and led the Vaqueros with a 10-over-par 223 at the Trinity Forest Invitational in Dallas.
ON THE TEE
It's a busy week around the WAC with eight schools in action across the country. Four schools will meet up at the Oregon State Invitational with California Baptist, Dixie State, Grand Canyon and Seattle U playing in the event. Sam Houston hosts the Bentwater Intercollegiate and will be joined by UT Rio Grande Valley in Montgomery. Stephen F. Austin heads east to Arkansas for the Bubba Barnett Intercollegiate in Jonesboro while Utah Valley heads west for the Bill Cullum Invitational, hosted by CSUN.
BY THE NUMBERS
Seattle U's Jack Rahon continues to lead the WAC in stroke average at 69.7 per round. Sam Houston's Chad Sewell is second at 70.6 while CBU's Eeli Kujanpaa and GCU's Sam Murphy are tied for third at 71.3. As a team, Sam Houston is tops at 286.3 followed by California Baptist (291.2) and Abilene Christian (291.9).
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.