Arizona Wildcats men's golf explained

Arizona Wildcats men's golf
Founded:1934
University:University of Arizona
Athletic Director:Dave Heeke
Coach:Jim Anderson
Coach-Tenure:10th
Conference:Big 12
Location:Tucson, Arizona
Course:Tucson Country Club
Par:72
Yards:7,022
Nickname:Arizona
Color1:Cardinal
Color2:Navy
Ncaachampion:1992
Ncaaappearance:1941, 1960, 1961, 1963, 1981, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2022, 2024
Conferencechampion:BIA
1938, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1954, 1960----WAC
----Pac-10/12
1987, 1991, 2000
Individualconference:BIA
Bill Bell (1942)----WAC
Drue Johnson (1969)----Pac-10/12
Paul Nolen (1984)
Larry Silveira (1987)
Manny Zerman (1991)
Jason Gore (1993)
Jason Gore (1994)
Ricky Barnes (2001)
Henry Liaw (2004)
Creighton Honeck (2008)
Brad Reeves (2021)

The Arizona Wildcats men's golf team has a strong golf tradition, dating back to their first season in 1934. Since then they have won one national title in 1992.

On August 4, 2023, Arizona announced it would join the Big 12 Conference along with Arizona State, Colorado, and Utah beginning in the 2024-25 academic year.[1]

Wildcats who have won the U.S. Amateur include Eric Meeks and Ricky Barnes. Besides Majors-winner Jim Furyk, a number of other former Wildcat players have gone on to win on the PGA Tour, including: Don Pooley, Dan Pohl, Robert Gamez, Mike Springer, Rory Sabbatini, Ted Purdy and Nate Lashley.[2] Furyk is also a Champions Tour major winner, and the eighth player to win both the U.S. Open and U.S. Senior Open.[3] In addition Wildcat Rory Sabbatini won a Silver Medal at the 2020 Summer Olympics competing for Slovakia.[4]

Yearly record

Source[5]

SeasonCoachConferenceNCAA
BIA
1935 Fred A. Enke NA
1936 Fred A. Enke NA
1937 Fred A. Enke NA
1938 Fred A. Enke 1st
1939 Fred A. Enke 2nd
1940 Fred A. Enke 1st
1941 Fred A. Enke 1st 18th
1942 Fred A. Enke 1st
1943 Fred A. Enke DNP
1944 Fred A. Enke DNP
1945 Fred A. Enke DNP
1946 Fred A. Enke 1st
1947 Fred A. Enke 1st
1948 Fred A. Enke 1st
1949 Fred A. Enke 2nd
1950 Fred A. Enke 2nd
1951 Fred A. Enke NA
1952 Fred A. Enke NA
1953 Fred A. Enke 3rd
1954 Fred A. Enke 1st
1955 Fred A. Enke 2nd
1956 Fred A. Enke 4th
1957 Fred A. Enke 2nd
1958 Fred A. Enke 3rd
1959 Fred A. Enke 2nd
1960 Fred A. Enke 1st 7th
1961 Fred A. Enke 2nd T-7th
WAC
1962 Fred A. Enke NA
1963 Fred A. Enke 2nd 25th
1964 Fred A. Enke 4th
1965 Fred A. Enke 5th
1966 Fred A. Enke 6th
1967 Roy Tatum 4th
1968 Roy Tatum 4th
1969 Roy Tatum 2nd
1970 Roy Tatum 4th
1971 Roy Tatum 4th
1972 George Schafer 4th
1973 John Gibson 4th
1974 John Gibson 4th
1975 John Gibson 5th
1976 John Gibson 4th
1977 John Gibson 4th
1978 John Gibson 4th
Pac-10/12
1979 Rick LaRose 2nd
1980 Rick LaRose 5th
1981 Rick LaRose 6th
1982 Rick LaRose 6th
1983 Rick LaRose 4th
1984 Rick LaRose 3rd
1985 Rick LaRose 6th
1986 Rick LaRose 6th
1987 Rick LaRose 1st 18th
1988 Rick LaRose 2nd 6th
1989 Rick LaRose 2nd 6th
1990 Rick LaRose 2nd 3rd
1991 Rick LaRose 1st T-18th
1992 Rick LaRose 4th 1st
1993 Rick LaRose 2nd 16th
1994 Rick LaRose 2nd 14th
1995 Rick LaRose 3rd 10th
1996 Rick LaRose 6th 5th
1997 Rick LaRose 5th 26th
1998 Rick LaRose 3rd 30th
1999 Rick LaRose 8th T-20th
2000 Rick LaRose 5th 3rd
2001 Rick LaRose 3rd 3rd
2002 Rick LaRose 7th T-9th
2003 Rick LaRose 2nd 17th
2004 Rick LaRose 1st 3rd
2005 Rick LaRose 3rd 17th
2006 Rick LaRose 5th 13th
2007 Rick LaRose 6th 24th
2008 Rick LaRose 6th
2009 Rick LaRose T-8th 30th
2010 Rick LaRose 9th
2011 Rick LaRose 7th 29th
2012 Rick LaRose 10th
2013 Jim Anderson T-8th
2014 Jim Anderson 9th
2015 Jim Anderson 9th
2016 Jim Anderson 10th
2017 Jim Anderson 9th
2018 Jim Anderson 9th
2019 Jim Anderson 8th
2020 Jim Anderson Season canceled due to the
Coronavirus Pandemic
2021 Jim Anderson 1st
2022 Jim Anderson 11th T-19th
2023 Jim Anderson 7th
2024 Jim Anderson 9th
Total BIA: 9
WAC: 0
Pac-10/12:3
1

Team tournament wins (79)

Source:[6]

Individual champions

Source:[7]

Regional

NCAA West Regional Championship
1989Robert Gamez
1992Harry Rudolph
1993Manny Zerman
2002Ricky Barnes
2004Chris Nallen
NCAA Southwest Regional Championship
2009Tarquin MacManus

Conference

Arizona has had 10 separate golfers win a conference title on 11 separate occasions.

BIA
1942Bill Bell
WAC
1969Drue Johnson
Pac-10/12
1984Paul Nolen
1987Larry Silveira
1991Manny Zerman
1993Jason Gore
1994Jason Gore
2001Ricky Barnes
2004Henry Liaw
2008Creighton Honeck
2011Brad Reeves

National honors

Source[8]

NCAA Coach of the Year

Pac-10/12 Coach of the Year

U.S. Amateur champions

Walker Cup Selections

Fred Haskins Award

Jack Nicklaus Award

Ben Hogan Award

National Freshman of the Year

COSIDA Academic All-American

All-American (Selected by GCAA)

Freshman All-American (Selected by GCAA)

Pac-10/12 Player of the Year

Pac-10/12 Freshman of the Year

Individual scoring record

Source:[9]

Low 18-hole total in relation to par
PlayerDateScore
Trevor WerbyloMar 18, 201962 (−10)
Chris Nallen Oct 14, 200362 (−9)
Brian ProutyJan 29, 200762 (−9)
Robert GamezJun 7, 198962 (−8)
Low 18-hole aggregate total
PlayerDateScore
Robert Gamez Jun 7, 198962 (−8)
Chris NallenOct 14, 200362 (−9)
Brian ProutyJan 29, 2007 62 (−9)
Trevor WerbyloMar 18, 201962 (−10)
Low 72-hole total in relation to par
PlayerDateScore
Ricky Barnes Apr 27–29, 2001268 (−16)
Brad ReevesApr 26–28, 2021272 (−16)
Ricky BarnesMay 31 − Jun 3, 2000275 (−13)
Paul NolenMay 2–4, 1984276 (−12)
George CunninghamApr 23–25, 2018272 (−12)
Low 72-hole total in relation to par
PlayerDateScore
Ricky BarnesApr 27–29, 2001268 (−16)
George CunninghamApr 23–25, 2018272 (−12)
Brad ReevesApr 26–28, 2021272 (−16)
Chris NallenJun 1–4, 2004273 (−7)
Ricky BarnesMay 31 – June 3, 2000275 (−13)
Career scoring average (min. 36 rounds played)
PlayerAverageYearsRounds
Chris Nallen71.192000–04167
Trevor Werbylo71.442017–21126
Ricky Barnes71.481999–03165
George Cunningham71.872014–18129
Henry Liaw71.892003–06123
Single-season scoring average (min. 18 rounds played)
PlayerYearsRounds
Chris Nallen 69.792003–0443
Trevor Werbylo70.042019–2024
George Cunningham70.402017–1843
Brad Reeves70.402020–2125
Trevor Werbylo70.722018–1940

Wildcats in the pros

Trevor WerbyloPGA Forme Tour2018–21Turned pro in 2021
George CunninghamPGA Tour Canada2015–18Won 2018 Golf BC Championship
Jordan GumbergPGA Tour Canada2016–17Turned pro in 2017
Brian ProutyWeb.com Tour2004–07Turned pro in 2007
Nate LashleyPGA Tour2002–05Won 1 PGA Tour event (2019 Rocket Mortgage Classic)
Ricky BarnesPGA Tour2000–03Six-time PGA Tour top-10 finishes including T-2 at 2009 U.S. Open & 2010 Masters Tournament
Set 36-hole scoring record at 2009 U.S. Open
2002 U.S. Amateur champion
Chris NallenNationwide Tour2001–04Won 1 Nationwide Tour event
Rory SabbatiniPGA Tour1995–98Six-time PGA Tour winner (2000 Air Canada Championship, 2003 FBR Capital Open, 2006 Nissan Open, 2007 Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial, 2009 HP Byron Nelson Championship, 2011 Honda Classic), 2020 Olympic Silver Medalist, 2003 WGC-World Cup winner
Ted PurdyPGA Tour1993–96Won 1 PGA Tour event (2005 Byron Nelson Championship)
David Berganio Jr.PGA Tour1991–93Four PGA Tour top-10 finishes, 3X Nike Tour winner
Manny ZermanForeign tour1990–93Turned pro in 1993
Jim FurykPGA Tour1989–9217-Time PGA Tour winner including 2003 U.S. Open, 2010 FedEx Cup Playoffs Champion, 2002 Memorial Tournament, Las Vegas Invitational (3), Canadian Open (2), RBC Heritage(2)
23 PGA Tour Top-10 Major Finishes including 2006 U.S. Open, 2007 U.S. Open & 2013 PGA Championship Runner-Up
9 Time Ryder Cup Participant (1997, 1999 (winners), 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008 (winners), 2010, 2012, 2014)
Ryder Cup U.S. Team Captain (2018)
7 Time Presidents Cup Participant (1998, 2000 (winners), 2003 (tie), 2005 (winners), 2007 (winners), 2009 (winners), 2011 (winners))
3x PGA Champions Tour Winner including 2021 U.S. Senior Open
Shot first round of 58 in PGA history in 2016
Ranks 4th All-Time on the PGA Tour Career Money Leaders with $71.5 Million Dollars[10]
Top 50 All-Time in PGA Tour Wins & Most Top-10s in a Career 188 (since 1980)[11]
Christian PenaForeign tour1988–91Turned pro in 1992
Larry SilveiraPGA Tour1987–88Turned pro in 1989, Nike Tour winner
Robert GamezPGA Tour1987–893X PGA Tour winner (1990 Northern Telecom Tucson Open, 1990 Nestle Invitational & 2005 Valero Texas Open
Mike SpringerPGA Tour1985–882X PGA Tour winner (1994 KMart Greater Greensboro Open & 1994 Greater Milwaukee Open)
Eric MeeksNationwide Tour1986–881998 U.S. Amateur champion
Jerry FoltzNike Tour1984–85Turned pro in 1984, Nike Tour winner
Mike CunningPGA Tour1979–80Asian Tour winner (2003 Royal Challenge Indian Open)
Dan PohlPGA Tour1975–762X PGA Tour winner (1986 Colonial National Invitation & 1986 NEC World Series of Golf)
Don PooleyPGA Tour1970–732X PGA Tour winner (1980 B.C. Open & 1987 Memorial Tournament), 2X Champions Tour winner
Source: Arizona 2021-22 Golf Media Guide[12]

Notes and References

  1. News: Robbins . Robert C. . University of Arizona Will Join the Big 12 Conference in 2024-25 . University of Arizona Athletics . August 4, 2023.
  2. Web site: Arizona Golf Media Guide .
  3. Web site: Furyk Rebounds After Rocky Start to Capture 41st U.S. Senior Open .
  4. Web site: Men's Individual Stroke Play .
  5. Web site: 2018-19 Texas Golf Fact Book. 18, 27. Texas Sports. PDF. May 26, 2020.
  6. Web site: Arizona Men's Golf Media Guide - Page 7 .
  7. Web site: Arizona Men's Golf Media Guide - Page 8 .
  8. Web site: 2021-22 Arizona Golf Media Guide. 9. Arizona Wildcats. PDF.
  9. Web site: 2021–22 Arizona Golf Media Guide . 12 . Arizona Wildcats.
  10. Web site: Career Money Leaders .
  11. Web site: Wins and Finishes .
  12. Web site: Arizona 2021-22 Golf Media Guide.