COMPLETE RELEASE (PDF)

GENERAL INFORMATION:

WHAT:  Pac-12 Conference Men’s Golf Championship (59th Annual)
WHEN: Monday-Wednesday, April 23-25, 2018
HOST:  USC will host the 72-hole Championship
COURSE: Rolling Hills Country Club, Rolling Hills Estates, Calif. 
WHO: Men’s golf teams from all 12 institutions will compete for bragging rights at the 2018 Pac-12 Men’s Golf Championship.

ADMISSION: Admission to the 2018 Pac-12 Championship is free.

MEDIA CONTACT:  USC’s Paul Goldberg (pgoldber@usc.edu) and the Pac-12’s Dave Hirsch (dhirsch@pac-12.org) will serve as the media contacts for the 2018 Pac-12 Men’s Golf Championship. Championship information, including schedules and tee times, the event program, results, news and records are available on the Pac-12’s golf championship website (http://pac-12.com/mens-golf/championships).

TELEVISION: Pac-12 Networks will air coverage of the championships on Sunday, May 6 at 10 a.m. PT.

PRACTICE ROUND: Teams will participate in a practice round on Sunday, April 22 beginning at 9:00 a.m. Student-athletes and coaches will be availble to the media following the practice round.

CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE: A complete schedule that includes team pairings and tee times is listed on page 3 of this release.

CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS:  At the conclusion of each round, results and photos will be posted on the Pac-12’s golf championship web site (http://pac-12.com/mens-golf/championships) and a link will also be available on the Pac-12 website to hole-by-hole live Golfstat scoring (www.golfstat.com).

ROLLING HILLS COUNTRY CLUB COURSE YARDAGE

OFF THE TEE...

USC will serve as host of the 59th Annual Pac-12 Men’s Golf Championships at Rolling Hills Country Club in Rolling Hills Estates, Calif., April 23-25. The Pac-12 features five top 25 teams (Golfweek rankings) in No. 5 CALIFORNIA, No. 12 STANFORD, No. 19 ARIZONA STATE, No. 21 USC and No. 24 UCLA ... According to Golfstat statistical rankings, the Pac-12 boasts the nation’s top three individuals in California’s Collin Morikawa, USC’s Justin Suh and Oregon’s Norman Xiong.

No. 5 CALIFORNIA - The Golden Bears have posted seven top-three finishes this season with three tournament titles - Alister McKenzie Invitational, Tavistock Collegiate Invitational and Wyoming Desert Intercollegiate ... Junior Collin Morikawa (68.67 stroke avg) has posted six top-five finishes, including medalist honors at the Querencia Cabo Collegiate (-16) and a pair of first-place ties at the Wyoming Desert Intercollegiate (-14) and Western Intercollegiate (-10). He’s posted 69 or better in 19 of 27 rounds played this season ... Junior KK Limbhasut (71.10 avg) has posted a pair of victories - Alister McKenzie Invitational (-15) and Ka’anapali Classic Collegiate Invitational (-12).

No. 12 STANFORD - The Cardinal has posted four top-five finishes in nine events. A veteran team, five of Stanford’s top six players are either a junior or senior ... Junior Brandon Wu (70.42 avg) has three top-10 finishes, as does junior teammate Isaiah Salinda (71.50 avg) ... Senior Franklin Huang (71.52 avg) is the top returning scorer from last year’s Pac-12 Championships where he tied for second (-1, 209). Huang has five top-25 finishes this season.

No. 15 ARIZONA STATE - The Sun Devils finished among the top-four six times this season, including victories at the Maui Jim Invitational, Bandon Dunes Championship and ASU Thunderbird Invitational ... Sophomore Chun An Yu (70.58 avg) has a pair of top-two finishes in 9 events, including a victory at the Bandon Dunes Championship (-13) and has posted 70 or better in 14 of 30 rounds ... Sophomore Alex del Rey (70.57 avg) has posted four top-10 finishes, including medalist honors at the Maui Jim Invitational (-10). He played in the Spanish Open, an event won by former Sun Devil Jon Rahm (2016 Pac-12 champion).

No. 22 USC - The Trojans have finished among the top five teams in five of nine events, including a team title at the Saint Mary’s Invitational ... Junior Justin Suh (68.69 avg) has seven top-10 finishes in nine events, including four tournament victories - Trinity Forest Invitational, Saint Mary’s Invitational, Amer Ari Invitational and Southern Highlands Intercollegiate - which are the most at USC in a season since Jamie Lovemark won four in his 2007 freshman season that saw him capture both the Pac-12 and NCAA titles ... Suh has posted 70 or better in 20 of 26 rounds ... Freshman Kaito Onishi (71.77 avg) has posted a pair of top-five finishes ... USC looks to become the first team to host and win the Pac-12 title since Washington in 2009.

No. 24 UCLA -  The Bruins have posted nine top-four finishes this season, including a win at the Southwestern Invitational ... Sophomore Hideoshi Yoshiihara (72.03 avg) has been UCLA’s top finisher in five of 11 events, while freshman Devon Bling (72.62) has been the Bruins’ top finisher in each of the last three tournaments, including a win at the Jack Rabbit Invitational (-15) ... Junior Cole Madey (72.19 avg) leads the Bruins with most rounds under par with 13 in 32 rounds of play.

ARIZONA - The Wildcats have posted five top-four finishes in 10 tournaments this season, including a victory in the Arizona Intercollegiate (Jan. 29-30). Senior George Cunningham (70.57 avg) has posted six top-10 finishes in 11 tournaments this season, including a win at the William H. Tucker Intercollegiate and a tie for first at the Western Intercollegiate (-10). He’s posted par or better in 19 of 33 rounds this season. Sophomore Brad Reeves (72.20 avg) has been the squad’s second-most consistent scorer with 14 rounds at par or better.

OREGON - The defending Pac-12 champions ... The Ducks have finished fourth or better in four of nine tournaments, including a wins at the Oregon Duck Invitational ...  Sophomore Norman Xiong (68.78 avg) has seven top-10 finishes this season, including an Oregon single-season record five victories - Rod Myers Invitational (12), Nike Collegiate Invitational (-13), Duck Invitational (-11), The Goodwin (-15) and Western Intercollegiate (-10). Xiong has shot par or better in 22 of 27 rounds ... Junior Ryan Gronlund (71.30 avg) has five top-10 finishes with 16 of his 27 rounds coming in at par or better.

COLORADO - Nine top-10 finishes in 11 tournaments for the Buffaloes in 2017-18 ... Seniors Yannick Paul (70.52 avg) and Spencer Painton (71.63 avg) pace the Buffs as Paul has posted par or better in 19 rounds this season, while Painton has 17 such rounds ... Paul won his first career event with co-medalist honors at the ASU Thunderbird Invitational (-11). His score of 202 was the best in CU history for a 54-hole tournament on a par-71 layout.

UTAH - The Utes have posted six top-five team finishes this season ... Junior Kyler Dunkle (71.44 avg) and Freshman Blake Tomlinson (71.53 avg) pace the Utes. Dunkle has finished among the top-10 three times, including a win at the Mark Simpson Colorado Invitational (-14) where he shot a final round 64. Tomlinson has posted par or better in 17 of 30 rounds.

WASHINGTON - Junior Carl Yuan (71.88 avg) paces the Huskies as he’s posted three top-10 finishes in nine events. Yuan tied for fourth at last year’s Pac-12 Championships (+3) ... Sophomore Henry Lee (72.32 avg) claims a pair of top-10 finishes and leads the Huskies with 13 rounds of par or better.

OREGON STATE - The Beavers have posted six top-10 team finishes this season ... The young Oregon State squad (only one senior on the roster) is led by freshman Spencer Tibbits (71.97 avg) and sophomore Shawn Lu (72.43 avg). Tibbits has posted par or better in 20 of 30 rounds,. Lu has shot par or better in 14 of 30 rounds, including eight in 10 second rounds where he averages 69.90.

WASHINGTON STATE - The Cougars, who took top team honors at the Itani  Quality Homes Collegiate in the season’s first tournament, have finished in the top-10 in four of their last five events ... Senior Derek Bayley (72.90 avg) and junior AJ Armstrong (73.31 avg) lead Washington State.

BEN HOGAN AWARD: Pac-12 is well represented with three players among the 10 semifinalists for the Ben Hogan Award - California’s Collin Morikawa, Oregon’s Norman Xiong, and USC’s Justin Suh. The most prestigious award in men’s college golf, The Ben Hogan Award is presented annually to the top men’s NCAA Division I, II or III, NAIA or NJCAA college golfer taking into account all collegiate and amateur competitions during the past 12-month period. The Ben Hogan Award list will be narrowed down to three finalists on Wednesday, May 2, with the winner announced Monday, May 21 prior to the start of the PGA TOUR’s Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial. Pac-12 golfers have owned the Hogan Award of late, winning each of the last six awards, and seven of the last eight. 2017 - Stanford’s Maverick McNealy; 2016 and 2015 - Arizona State’s Jon Rahm; 2014 - Stanford’s Patrick Rodgers; 2013 - Washington’s Chris Williams; 2012 - UCLA’s Patrick Cantlay; 2010 - Washington’s Nick Taylor.

FRED HASKINS AWARD: Oregon’s Norman Xiong, California’s Collin Morikawa, and USC’s Justin Suh top the latest Fred Haskins Award Watch List (April 12). The Fred Haskins Award Presented by Stifel is given annually to the best college golfer, as voted by players, coaches and media.

PALMER CUP: Three Pac-12 golfers were tabbed to participate in the 2018 Palmer Cup. California’s Collin Morikawa and USC’s Justin Suh will represent the United States, while California’s KK Limbhasut will represent the International team. The annual Ryder Cup-style competition will be played July 6-8 at Evian Resort Golf Club.

THE RANKINGS:

Golfweek/Sagarin (as of Apr 17)
(Top 10 and Pac-12):
1. Oklahoma State
2. Vanderbilt
3. Texas A&M
4. Oklahoma
5. CALIFORNIA
6. Alabama
7. Georgia Tech
8. Auburn
9. LSU
10. Baylor
12. STANFORD
15. ARIZONA STATE
22. USC
24. UCLA
32. ARIZONA
36. OREGON
45. COLORADO
71. UTAH
74. WASHINGTON
83. OREGON STATE
106. WASHINGTON STATE

Golfstat (as of Apr 18)
(Top 10 and Pac-12):
1. Oklahoma State
2. Texas A&M
3. Oklahoma
5. Vanderbilt
4. Georgia Tech
6. Alabama
7. Florida
8. CALIFORNIA
9. Auburn
10. Baylor
17. STANFORD
22. ARIZONA STATE
23. USC
28. UCLA
30. OREGON
32. ARIZONA
46. COLORADO
71. WASHINGTON
77. UTAH
97. OREGON STATE
115. WASHINGTON STATE

Golfweek Individual Rankings (as of Apr 17)
(No. 1 and Pac-12 top 100):
1. Collin Morikawa, CAL
2. Justin Suh, USC
3. Norman Xiong, ORE
28. George Cunningham, ARIZ
32. Brandon Wu, STAN
43. Alex del Rey, ASU
55. Sebastian Crampton, CAL
60. Chun An Yu, ASU
63. KK Limbhasut, CAL
73. Yannik Paul, COLO
79. Jeffrey Swegle, STAN
97. Jamie Cheatham, CAL

Golfstat Individual Rankings (as of Apr 18)
(No. 1 and Pac-12 top 100):
1. Collin Morikawa, CAL
2. Justin Suh, USC
3. Norman Xiong, ORE
43. George Cunningham, ARIZ
48. Brandon Wu, STAN
65. Jeffrey Swegle, STAN
71. Yannik Paul, COLO
72. KK Limbhasut, CAL
77. Chun An Yu, ASU
80. Sebastian Crampton, CAL
87. Ryan Gronlund, ORE
90. Alex del Rey, ASU
95. Franklin Huang, STAN

2018 CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

SCHEDULE:  A practice round will take place on Sunday, April 22 at 9:00 a.m. before the tournament begins on Monday morning.  Monday’s tee times will be off No. 1 and No. 10 at 7:15 a.m., followed by the second round teeing off at 12:30 p.m. Tee times for Tuesday will begin at 9 a.m. off No. 1 and No. 10. Wednesday’s final round will begin at 8 a.m. off No. 1 and No. 10 with pairings decided by order of finish following Saturday’s round.

TEAM PAIRINGS AND TEE TIMES  
1st Tee
Rd. 1 /Rd. 2

10th Tee
Rd. 1/Rd. 2

TOURNAMENT SCORING:  The top-five individuals from each team with the lowest scores for any 18-hole round constitute the scoring members of the six member team for that given round. The team championship will be awarded to the squad with the lowest total combined score for all rounds.