Hosted by San José State University athletics and the men’s golf program
San José, Calif. – The 66th annual Western Intercollegiate Golf Tournament, one of the nation’s most coveted championships, is set for April 13-15 at the historic Alister MacKenzie-designed Pasatiempo Golf Club in Santa Cruz, Calif.
Those in golf know the Western Intercollegiate continues to attract high-profile teams and their outstanding players. According to John Kennaday, San José State University men’s golf coach, six of the top-20 teams nationally and 18 of GolfStat’s top-100 players are expected to compete in this 54-hole championship. Texas (#1), UCLA (#5), USC (#6) and California (#9) are in GolfStat’s top-10 in the February 29 team rankings.
In addition to host San Jose State University, UCLA the reigning Western Intercollegiate champion, Texas, USC, California, Arizona State, New Mexico State, San Diego State, Stanford, UC Irvine, Oregon, Denver, Hawaii, Hawaii at Hilo, and Kansas are in the 15-team field.
Texas freshman Jordan Spieth is GolfStat’s number-one men’s college player nationally in its February 29 rankings. UCLA sophomore Patrick Cantley, ranked 23rd in the GolfStat rankings, is the #1 player in the World Amateur Golf Rankings administered by the R & A (Royal and Ancient Golf Club of Scotland) and the USGA (United States Golf Association).
This revered competition is one of the longest-running collegiate tournaments in the country. Players are aware they’ll need to hone their course strategy skills prior to this championship at Pasatiempo, a venue that’s ranked among the best by GolfWeek, Golf Digest, Golf Magazine and Zagat Survey.
In addition to the two-day championship, top collegiate players are also looking forward to the practice round on Friday, April 13, in which business leaders and college alums will join them in the Western Intercollegiate College-Am. “Friday’s practice round and college-am provide a rare opportunity for avid amateur golfers to tee it up with some extremely talented collegiate players,” states Coach Kennaday. “It’s also a great opportunity for business and community leaders to rally in support of collegiate golf.”
Tradition and spirit trail all sixty-six years of “The Western” with such noted champions as Peter Jacobson, Mark Lye, Johnny Miller, Arron Oberholser, Mark O’Meara and Ken Venturi. “I will always hold fond memories of competing in the Western Intercollegiate at Pasatiempo,” shared Golf Legend and two-time past Champion Ken Venturi. “Yes, a first-class tournament at a tremendous venue, one that separates a top-performing player from the average.”
In the past the tournament has also attracted household names and revered players like Al Geiberger, Roger Maltbie, the-late Bob Rosburg, Dave Stockton, Tom Watson, and Tiger Woods.
Spectators are free to join the gallery at the Western Intercollegiate at Pasatiempo GC on April 14-15, a championship made possible through platinum sponsors Frys.com Open, Jerry Hamilton of Cooper Challen Realty, Brandenburg Family Foundation, and Don & Sally Lucas. To learn more about the Western Intercollegiate and College-Am, and/or Western Intercollegiate sponsorship opportunities, visit http://www.westernintercollegiate.net/.
Contact:
SJSU Sports Information Director: Lawrence Fan | lawrence.fan@sjsu.edu
“WI” Media Contact: Emmy | EmmyPGA@aol.com
