Men's Golf Opens Season in Scottsdale

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – The defending Pac-12 champions, Arizona Men's Golf, will officially begin the 2021-22 season with a drive to Scottsdale for the Maui Jim Intercollegiate. In addition to a handful of Pac-12 foes, the event field includes five teams who finished last season ranked in the top 25 of the GolfStat rankings. Arizona's season-opening tournament at Mirabel Golf Club begins its first of three rounds on Friday, Sept. 10.

"It's always an exciting time to begin a new season, especially when we were unable to have a Fall season last year," said head coach Jim Anderson. "We lost four seniors with a ton of experience from last year, but I know our returners are eager to compete. We will also have some newcomers playing in their first collegiate tournaments, which is also exciting. This is a competitive group that is hungry, and I look forward to our entire team's play this weekend."

The Wildcats lost a trio of fifth-year seniors from last season's roster as well as a fourth-year senior who combined to play in 548 rounds during their collegiate careers. Top returners Christian Banke and Chase Sienkiewicz will anchor coach Jim Anderson's lineup for the weekend. The duo will be joined by senior Santeri Lehesmaa, junior Chaz Aurilia and sophomore Sam Sommerhauser with a quarter of others competing as individuals.

The Maui Jim Intercollegiate is the first of four fall tournaments for Arizona who was unable to play last fall due to COVID-19. This weekend's event is also the first of six events played in the Pac-12 footprint during the 2021-22 season.