This Week in WAC Men's Golf - March 25
This Week in WAC Men's Golf - March 25
Complete Release (PDF)
UTRGV'S PORTELLI NAMED TICKETSMARTER MEN'S GOLFER OF THE WEEK
UT Rio Grande Valley's Luca Portelli has been named TicketSmarter Western Athletic Conference Men's Golfer of the Week for March 17 through March 23.
Portelli, a graduate student from Milan, Italy, was the top WAC finisher at The Big Texan in Kerrville, Texas. After a 1-over-par 73 to open the event, he shot a 3-under-par 69 and then an even-par 72 to take fourth among 55 golfers. On the season, Luca holds a stroke average of 73.2 through 11 rounds, good for sixth in the WAC this year.
Other men's nominees: Chicago State's Keedan Easley was the Cougars top finisher at the Big Texan, shooting a 16-over-par 232 on the 54-hole event … Dixie State's Josh Pehreson was the top WAC finisher at the Oregon Duck Invitational, shooting an 8-over-par 221 to tie for 18th place … NM State's Albaro Morales and Garrison Smith tied for fifth at the Big Texan, shooting a 1-under-par 215 … Seattle U's Nathan Cogswell led the Redhawks at the Oregon Duck Invitational, shooting a 15-over-par 228 to tie for 47th place.
ON THE TEE
California Baptist leads things off this week, heading to NorCal for The Goodwin, hosted by Stanford. Beginning on Monday, Chicago State heads to Indianapolis for the Butler Spring Invitational while Utah Valley joins host Seattle U at the Redhawk Invitational in University Place, Wash.
BY THE NUMBERS
Utah Valley's Brady McKinlay leads all individual golfers with a 72.4 stroke average. UVU's Kai Iguchi is second at 72.8 with UTRGV's Leonardo Novella is third at 72.8. As a team, UVU has the top stroke average at 289.3, followed by Dixie State at 292.1 and Seattle U at 294.4.
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 will have six schools in Texas, more than any other conference in the country, and three schools in Utah, also a national best. The four Texas schools will join the league on July 1, 2021 and Southern Utah will follow 365 days later, officially joining the WAC on July 1, 2022.
WAC CHAMPIONSHIP TO BE PLAYED IN NEVADA
The 2021 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.