Coming off back-to-back tournament titles, the Chico State men’s golf team is ranked No. 1 in this week’s Golfstat Head-to-Head National Rankings. The Wildcats are 207-1 against fellow Division II programs, and boast a 5-0 mark against teams in the top-25 through four tournaments this fall.
“I’m excited about the rankings, but it’s only a number,” said Wildcats Head Coach T.L. Brown. “It’s great for our boosters, alumni, and recruits to see. But our goal is to compete for the title in every tournament we play. So we’re looking forward to the spring and getting back out there and competing.”
The Wildcats reached that goal in all four tournaments they played this fall. After finishing third in the Viking Fall Invitational and Grand Canyon Fall Classic, the Wildcats won their home tournament – the InterWest Wildcat Classic – and then won their third consecutive Sonoma State Invitational title on Oct. 20.
Barry University is ranked No. 2, followed by the Wildcats’ West Region rival, Western Washington University at No. 3. The only other two West Region schools ranked among the top-25 at No. 15 Dixie State and No. 25 Saint Martin’s.
Chico State will open up the spring half of its schedule on Feb. 7-9 at the Golfweek Division II Spring Invitational in Orlando, Florida, against a number of other highly-ranked teams.
Sophomore Kyle Souza, last year’s California Collegiate Athletic Association Freshman of the Year and an All-West Region selection, has led the team to an adjusted scoring average of 72.10, which is third best among NCAA Division II teams.
The Wildcats lead the nation in par 3 scoring at 3.07, and Souza is ranked 18th in par-3 scoring among the nation’s individuals at 2.95. The Wildcats are also eighth in the nation in par 4 scoring (4.13) and par 5 scoring (4.82).
Eric Frazzetta and Souza are tied for 14th in the nation in par-4 scoring at 4.00, while Bobby Bucey is tied for 11th in the nation in sub-par strokes per round at 4.50, and Souza ranks 15th at 4.30.
Click here to see the Golfstat rankings.
