ROHNERT PARK, Calif. – The Western Washington University men's golf team continued is stellar late-season play with the team in the top five of a deep 21-team field at the West Regional Spring Preview at Foxtail Golf Club.

 In a tournament featuring 13 teams ranked in the top 50 in the nation via the Golfstat rankings, No. 21 WWU is in 4th place following a 36-hole team total of 2-over-par 578 with rounds of 287 (-1) and 291 (+3) on the par 72, 6,851-yard layout. Tournament host No. 19 Sonoma State and No. 26 Cal State San Marcos are tied for the team lead at 4-under-par 572, three strokes ahead of third-place No. 46 Hawai'i Hilo (-1, 575) and six strokes better than the Vikings heading into Tuesday's final round.

"All in all it was a solid start for the guys," said WWU Director of Golf Luke Bennett. "They battled tough course conditions, and a couple very long rounds. I love that they never gave up and stayed patient! We look to build on the positives we created today."
 

WWU All-America candidate Jordan Lee continued his standout senior season with two more round under par, totaling a 5-under-par 139 (69-70). Lee sits in a four-way tie for first place in the 115-player field by recording nine birdies, 21 pars and one eagle on Monday.
 

"Jordan's game was very solid today," added Bennett. "He makes the game look very simple. I'm very happy for him, all of his hard work is paying off."

 

Sophomore Seth King paced the Vikings with 11 birdies in the opening 36 holes to tie for third-most in the tournament field. King is tied for 11th place at 1-under-par 143 following rounds of 71 (-1) and 72 (E). 

 

Sophomore Matteo Polla is tied for 29th place at 3-over-par 147 (73-74), sophomore Conrad Brown is in a tie for 44th place at 5-over-par 149 (74-75) and senior co-captain Cody Oakes is tied for 51st at 6-over-par 150 (75-75).

 

Lee is tied for the lead for individual medalist honors with Matthew Pennington of Cal State San Marcos (73-66), Griffin Pace of Sonoma State (72-67) and Keith Ng of Hawai'i Hilo (70-69). Lee is coming off a tournament victory at the Hanny Stanislaus Invitational and has now turned in 16 of 20 rounds this season at par or better.

 

The West Regional Spring Preview serves as a first look at the course that will host the 2023 NCAA Division II West/South Central Super Regional May 11-13. The Vikings are in good position to qualify for their 24th consecutive trip to the NCAA Championships with a top five regional ranking entering the regional preview.

 

Tuesday's final round is scheduled to begin with a shotgun start at 8 am with the Vikings paired with Sonoma State, Cal State San Marcos and Hawai'i Hilo in the featured group beginning on holes 1, 2 and 3. The final round of the West Regional Spring Preview can be followed online via live results via Golfstat at wwuvikings.com/MG_Live.

 

Here is a look at WWU's individual results and the team leaderboard following Monday's first two rounds of the West Regional Spring Preview hosted by Sonoma State University at Foxtail Golf Club:

 

 

The West Regional Spring Preview gives teams a look at the venue that will host the NCAA II West/South Central Super Regional May 11-13. The Spring Preview features a 21-team field with 13 teams ranked in the top 50 in the Golfstat Relative Team Rankings. The two-day, 54- hole stroke play tournament is hosted by Sonoma State University and will feature an 8 am shotgun start on Monday (36 holes) and Tuesday (18 holes).

 

• Event: West Regional Spring Preview
• Course: Foxtail Golf Club
• Location: Rohnert Park, CA
• Details: Par 72, 6,851 Yards
• Golfstat Live Leaderboard

 

The West Regional Spring Preview serves as the final regular-season tournament for the Vikings. WWU will next compete April 24-25 at the GNAC Championships in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho at the Coeur d'Alene Golf Resort. WWU is the defending conference champions and won the team title 10 times in the 14-year history of the event.

 

Here is a look at the 2022-23 schedule for the WWU Men's Golf program, in addition to the 2023 postseason schedule. All tournament recaps, season statistics and program history can be found on WWUVikings.com/MGolf.

 

 

Fans can follow the WWU Men's Golf program online at WWUVikings.com/MGolf, and via social media on Twitter (@WWUGolf), Instagram (@wwugolf) and Facebook (@WWUMGolf).

 

The WWU men's golf team has an incredible streak of advancing to the NCAA Championships in each of the 23 seasons the program has competed at the NCAA Division II level dating back to the 1998-99 season, which includes this season after earning the automatic bid from winning the GNAC Championships. WWU placed 3rd at the 2013 national championship for the highest finish in program history. The program has produced 16 NCAA All-Americans and has won 10 of 14 Great Northwest Athletic Conference championships since the tournament debuted in 2008, including the 2022 title. The Vikings have also featured the GNAC Championships individual medalist in nine of 14 tournaments with Aidan Thain joining the long list of conference champions in 2022 and nine GNAC Player of the Year awards.