Fresno State at Jim Maui Intercollegiate
Sept. 8-10, 2023 • Mirabel CC • Scottsdale, Ariz.
Live Stats:GolfGenius.com
Twitter (X):@FresnoStateMG
FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno State men's golf team will tee off its 2023-24 season this weekend at the Mirabel Maui Jim Intercollegiate in Scottsdale, Ariz. The tournament, hosted by Georgia State, will be held Sept. 8-10 at the Mirabel Golf Club and will have one round each day on the par-71, 7,147-yard course. The program enters its 11th season under head coach Chad Spencer.
The Bulldogs will feature a lineup of Matthew Sutherland, Matthew Manganello, Joseph Lloyd, Jake Bettencourt and Andrew Lee. Fresno State will begin Friday's round at 7:30 a.m. PT, paired with SMU and Arkansas – Little Rock.
Ryan Firpo will compete as an individual this weekend at Legend Trail Golf Club. The freshman will tee off at 7:52 a.m.
TOURNEY TIME
The Bulldogs will compete in the Maui Jim for the first time in program history. The field for the team portion of the tournament includes No. 6 Auburn, Arkansas – Little Rock, Colorado, Georgia State, Mercer, Missouri, New Mexico, (RV) Ohio State, No. 22 Oregon, (RV) San Diego State, Santa Clara, SMU, Texas State and UNLV.
The 15-team field includes five teams that advanced to last year's NCAA Championship at nearby Grayhawk Golf Club.
The individual tournament is set to host approximately 40 players.
An added incentive to the tournament this season is an exemption into a 2024-25 Korn Ferry Tour event for the individual winner. The lone man standing will work with the KFT to name the event of his choosing.
THE LINEUP
Matthew Sutherland – 2023 All-Mountain West Team, NCAA Qualifier
Matthew Manganello – 2023 All-Mountain West Team, NCAA Qualifier
Joseph Lloyd – 72.25 scoring average (2022-23)
Jake Bettencourt — 73.78 scoring average (2022-23)
Andrew Lee —74.17 in 12 rounds (2022-23)
Indv. Ryan Firpo – 70.25 scoring average and a low round of 66 during his senior season
IT WAS A SUTHERLAND SUMMER
Matthew Sutherland had an eventful summer bringing some hardware back to the Valley. The senior won the Sacramento City Amateur and the 99th California State Fair Amateur.
Sutherland qualified for the U.S. Amateur for the second consecutive year, where became the first Bulldog to advance to the Sweet 16 since 2009.
THE MORE YOU PLAY, THE LUCKIER YOU GET
The Bulldogs are loaded with experience this season, returning their top four performers from last season.
Matthew Sutherland, a 2023 All-MW selection, qualified for the NCAA Morgan Hill Regional and ended the season No. 98 in GolfStat rankings. He competed in all 11 tournaments with a team-low 70.56 scoring average, posting five Top 10 finishes and a team-high Top 5 finishes.
Matthew Manganello, a 2023 All-MW selection, qualified for the NCAA Morgan Hill Regional and finished the season ranked No. 144 in GolfStat rankings. He competed in all 11 tournaments with a 70.59 scoring average. Manganello became the first Bulldog to earn two medalist honors in the same season since Nick Watney in 2002 with wins at the Saint Mary's Invitational and the Wyoming Desert Intercollegiate.
Joseph Lloyd played in 10 tournaments, owning a 72.5 scoring average on the season. He carded a season-low round of 68 twice. Lloyd finished fifth at the Bandon Dunes Invitational and earned Mountain West Golfer of the Week following the event.
Jake Bettencourt played in eight tournaments, finishing the season with a 73.78 scoring average. He shot a low round of 70 on four occasions.