United Athletic Conference

Sam Houston's Chad Sewell has been named TicketSmarter Western Athletic Conference Men's Golfer of the Week for September 8 through September 14.

 

Sewell, a senior from Conroe, Texas, placed second among 75 golfers at the Kansas State Wildcat Invitational to help lead the Bearkats to their first win in their first event of the young season. After shooting an even-par 72 in the opening round, he went 3-under-par in the second round and finished the tournament with a 1-under-par 71 to finish 4-under-par at 212 and just two strokes back of the lead. As a team, the Bearkats cruised to the title, finishing nine strokes ahead of the host Wildcats with an even-par 864.

 

Other nominees: California Baptist's James Mackie tied for 15th at the Golfweek Fall Challenge, shooting a 6-under-par 210, including a 5-under-par 67 in the second round … Lamar's Pedro Marin led the Cardinals at the Jim Rivers Intercollegiate, shooting a 2-under-par 214 to tie for 17th among 119 golfers … NM State's Aidan Thomas was under par for the final two rounds of the Gene Miranda Falcon Invitational, tying for 14th with a 2-under-par 214 … Utah Valley's Kai Iguchi led the Wolverines with a 3-over-par 219 to tie for 29th at the Gene Miranda Falcon Invitational.

 

Seattle U becomes the latest to open up their season this week as the Redhawks head across Puget Sound to Bremerton for the Husky Invitational. Utah Valley will head back to Colorado for the Ram Masters in Fort Collins while Lamar, NM State, Stephen F. Austin and UT Rio Grande Valley, who will be make its season debut as well, will all meet in San Antonio for the Lone Star Invitational.

 

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. 

 

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.

 

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.