Fresno State hosts Nick Watney Invitational
Sept. 25-26, 2023 • Fort Washington CC • Fresno, Calif.
Live Stats: GolfStat.com
Twitter (X): @FresnoStateMG
FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno State men's golf team will host the Nick Watney Invitational Sept. 25-26 at Fort Washington Golf and Country Club; it will be a three-round tournament on the par-71 6,729-yard course.
The Bulldogs will feature a lineup of Matthew Sutherland, Joseph Lloyd, Matthew Manganello, Ryan Firpo and Andrew Lee. Fresno State will be paired with Seattle University, Utah State and Pacific for the opening 36 holes. Mason Benbrook and Jaden Hunter will play as individuals in the tournament.
The first round will have a shotgun start on Monday at 8:30 a.m. PT.
TOURNEY TIME
Fresno State's tournament will be the Bulldogs' 59th home tournament, which was originally titled the Fresno State Classic and renamed after Fresno State alumnus and PGA Tour star Nick Watney in 2014.
The 14-team field includes Cal Baptist, CSU Fullerton, CSUN, Gonzaga, Pacific, Sacramento State, Saint Mary's (CA), Seattle University, Southern Utah, UC Irvine, UC Riverside, Utah State and Utah Valley.
THE SCHEDULE
Monday - 36 holes, shotgun start at 8:30 a.m. PT
Tuesday - 18 holes, shotgun start at 8:30 a.m. PT
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)
Ryan Firpo – 70.25 scoring average during his senior season
Andrew Lee – 74.17 scoring average in 12 rounds (2022-23)
Individuals: Mason Benbrook and Jaden Hunter
LAST TIME OUT
Fresno State finished second in the Maui Jim Intercollegiate, scoring 45-under par to set a new program low, breaking a record that had stood since 2005. Earning the best finish of his career, tying for second, Joseph Lloyd carded a 17-under par, tying Nick Watney for Fresno State's 54-hole record versus par.
The Bulldogs' score of 807 smashed the program's 54-hole record of 820 which came from that same tournament. It was just the second time in Fresno State's history that the team has been more than 25 strokes under par.
Additionally, Fresno State's second round 263 broke the program's one-round total by three strokes.
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 he became the first Bulldog to advance to the final 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.