The WSU Men’s Golf Team prepares to begin their season on Tuesday Sep. 8, when they host the Palouse Collegiate Tournament. It will kick off a new era of Men’s Golf at WSU, as the Cougars are now affiliate members of the West Coast Conference.
In 2024, the Cougars finished 11th in the Pac-12 Championships, but turned it around when they won the National Golf Invitational in May. Their win in the NGI was their only win of the 2023-24 school year, though the team also finished second twice and third twice.
This will mark the first time since 2016 that the WSU Men’s golf team has hosted a tournament, but for Palouse Ridge, it is a relatively quick turnaround from April, when WSU hosted the Pac-12 Women’s Championships.
Pullman will welcome fourteen schools to the Palouse next week. Among them include three of their former counterparts in the Pac-12. The Utah Utes, who finished 10th in the Pac-12 last year and competed in the NCAA Championships, head to the Palouse. So do the Colorado Buffaloes, who finished 9th in the Pac-12, and the Oregon State Beavers, who finished 7th in the Pac-12.
Five schools from California make the trip north from the golden state. The University of California San Diego Tritons struggled last year, only finishing in the top five twice in ten tournaments. The University of the Pacific Tigers, now rivals with the Cougars in the WCC, finished fifth in the WCC Championship in 2024.
The California State Sacramento Hornets, winners of the Big Sky Championship in 2024, will look to use the momentum to propel themselves into a strong year. The San Jose State Spartans competed against WSU at three tournaments last year, and the Cal State Northridge Matadors are back after losing to the Cougars in the NGI, where they finished 6th.
Local rivals Gonzaga and Seattle U also head to the Palouse to kick off their seasons. The Bulldogs finished 8th in the 2024 WCC Championships, while the Redhawks finished 9th in the WAC Championships. Also making the trip across the border will be the Idaho Vandals. Last April the Vandals defeated Boise State in the Battle for Idaho, and finished third in the Mountain West Championships.
Also competing will be the University of Nevada Wolf Pack, the Wyoming Cowboys, and the Utah Valley Wolverines.
