Lancers Open the 2023-2024 Campaign at the Nick Watney Invitational
9/21/2023 12:30:00 PM | Men's Golf
RIVERSIDE--- California Baptist University's men's golf program will begin their 2023-2024 season in Fresno, California, as they tee off the year at the Nick Watney Invitational. The Lancers have a stacked schedule for both the fall and spring and will be looking to three new golfers to lead the squad through the rounds this season.
Last season, the Lancers also competed at the Nick Watney Invitational, and James Mackie scored one-over par to end the tournament with the best score for CBU. After the Nick Watney Invitational, the Lancers will head to Greenville, North Carolina, to play in the Ironwood Collegiate Classic hosted by East Carolina.
It's officially official. T-minus 24 days until our Fall season begins👏#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/XRLEmrbiLc
— California Baptist Men's Golf (@CBUMensGolf) September 1, 2023
TL Brown has returned five Lancers for this season and welcomed four others, boasting a nine-person roster. Eeli Kujanpää is the name to know for this season after he had a phenomenal sophomore season, where he picked up his first individual tournament win at The Joust and had three top-ten finishes.
Joining the Lancers is a trio of talent, including Kurtis Rodriguez, Fred Tindale, and Ka'ena Kaulia. Rodriguez comes to Riverside from the University of Nebraska, Omaha, and recently qualified for the US Amateur after shooting a 145 for the final spot. Rodriguez tallied a 73.80 stroke average with the Mavericks and was ranked 86th by AJGA Rolex World Junior Rankings. Tindale joined the squad from Coker College and averaged a 73.90, earning him Coker College Student-Athlete of the Year. Rounding out the newest Lancers is none other than Kaulia. The Oregon local kept busy this summer with two first-place finishes at the FCG Pacific Northwest Invitational and the OJG Peter Jacobsen Junior Challenge. JGS Rankings ranks Kaulia 3rd in Oregon and 491st in the United States.
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— California Baptist Men's Golf (@CBUMensGolf) July 27, 2023
Check out Head Coach TL Brown's thoughts on the newest Lancers joining the men's golf program🏌️#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/fCsbF0XSLS
"Our team is excited to begin our fall season at Fort Washington Country Club," remarks Brown. "The course provides several opportunities for red numbers. Our team has four student athletes in their final season of college golf and they all want to finish on top". Brown returns for his eighth season with California Baptist and boasts a total of six event wins. Brown will be looking for their first team win in Division I after securing the first individual win last season, courtesy of Kujanpää.
CBU ends its fall season with the Visit Stockton Invitational hosted by Pacific and the Kapolei Invitational in Honolulu, Hawaii, before kicking off their six other tournaments in the spring, followed by the WAC Tournament in April in Arizona.
