Cal State Fullerton Adds Golf Program: Intercollegiate men's and women's golf will be reinstated at Cal State Fullerton for the 2009-10 season after an absence of more than two decades. The addition of the Titans program increases the Big West Conference men's total to nine teams while the women's side will now showcase seven squads. UC Santa Barbara and Pacific are the two Big West schools that do not sponsor women's golf.
UC Davis Men Kick Off 2009-10 Season: The Aggies will be the first men's team to hit the links this season as they open the season Sept. 14-15 at the Washington State Invitational in Pullman, Wash. UC Irvine and UC Riverside join the ranks the following week when they head to the Lone Star State for the UTA/Waterchase Invitational. Cal Poly and Cal State Northridge close out the month with their own respective tournaments. The Mustangs compete in the Oregon State-hosted Giustina Memorial (Sept. 28-29) following a dual match warm-up with Cal State Bakersfield on the 19th, while the Matadors head to Layton, Utah, for the Purple and Red Invitational. The remaining four schools - Cal State Fullerton, Long Beach State, UC Santa Barbara and Pacific - must wait until October before they swing their clubs.
Women Get Underway This Month: All seven women's teams take to the course this month to open the 2009-10 season. Leading the way is a quartet consisting of Cal State Northridge, Long Beach State, UC Irvine and UC Riverside, who open this year next week. UC Irvine competes in the Golfweek Challenge Sept. 13-15, the Highlanders and Matadors gear up for the Bulldogs & Eagles Invitational (Sept. 14-15) in Spokane, Wash., and the 49ers visit Fort Collins, Colo., Sept. 14-15 for the Ptarmigan/Ram Fall Classic. Cal Poly, Cal State Fullerton and UC Davis participate in various tournaments at a later date.
UC Irvine's John Chin Tabbed "Player To Watch" By Golf World: UC Irvine senior John Chin is named as one of the "Top 50 Players to Watch" this season in Golf World's annual college preview issue. Chin has been voted the Big West Conference Player of the Year the past two seasons and he was medalist at the 2008 league tournament. He led UCI with a stroke average of 71.39 and posted six top-10 finishes last season.
A Look Back At The 2009 Championship: The 2009 Big West Golf Championship showcased two new faces atop the leaderboard with UC Davis men and Long Beach State women each claiming the program's first Big West Championship. The 54-hole tournament, hosted by Cal Poly, took place at the San Luis Obispo County Club April 20-21. UC Davis fired a 54-hole, three-under-par 861 (291-286-284) to dethrone two-time defending champion UC Irvine by seven strokes. The Aggies, who carried a two-stroke lead into the final round of competition, padded their lead with a tournament-low 284 in the final round of competition. UC Irvine and Pacific tied for second after blasting a three-round 868 total. The women's side was tightly contested as Long Beach State, the women's leader heading into the final round, registered a three-round 929 (308-313-308) to capture the top prize by one stroke. With the help of a tournament-low 303 in the final round of play, UC Irvine nearly overcame a six-stroke deficit in an attempt to grab their fifth straight title. Unfortunately, the Anteaters fell one stroke short and instead settled for a two-way tie for second with UC Davis after shooting a three-round total of 930.
UC Irvine, Long Beach State Highlighted 2009 Honors: On the men's side UC Irvine's John Chin collected his second consecutive Big West Golfer of the Year honor. Long Beach State's Kevin Lim and UC Irvine's Roberto Francioni earned co-freshmen of the year honors, while UC Davis' Cy Williams received coach of the year accolades. Jane Chin of UC Irvine was chosen Big West Womens Golfer of the Year and Long Beach States Lee Lopez and Sue Ewart were selected womens freshman and coach of the year.