BYU picked to win first WCC Men's Golf Championship

SAN BRUNO, Calif. – BYU enters the 2014 Spring season ranked No. 37 according to Golfstat and was picked to win the 2014 West Coast Conference Men’s Golf Championship in a poll of the league coaches. The Cougars captured 64 points and the maximum of eight first-place votes.

BYU placed three on the preseason All-WCC team, led by sophomore Joe Parkinson, a two-time WCC Player of the Month during the fall season, junior Jordan Rodgers and senior Justin Keiley, an All-WCC first team selection in 2013. Parkinson is the top-rated player in the WCC at No. 33 in the current Golfweek/Sagarin rankings and posted four top-10 finishes and a tournament victory in four fall events.

Just three votes separated second through fourth places. San Diego checked in second in the preseason poll with 51 points. The Toreros will look to junior Grant Forrest, its lone representative on the All-WCC preseason squad. In five fall events, Forrest, the 2013 WCC Championship medalist, posted a pair of top-five finishes, including a medalist honor.

San Francisco was tabbed third with 50 votes, while two-time defending WCC Champion Saint Mary’s was fourth with 49, including the remaining first-place vote. Two Dons earned a spot on the preseason team: senior Cory McElyea, the 2013 California State Amateur Champion and sophomore Seb Crookall-Nixon. Senior Dalan Refioglu earned preseason team honors for the Gaels.

Santa Clara was picked fifth with 27 points, just in front of Pepperdine (26). The Broncos will rely on sophomore Carlos Briones, while the Waves will count on senior Jeremy Sanders. Both Briones and Sanders were named to the preseason squad. WCC newcomer Pacific was picked seventh with 26 points.

Loyola Marymount (16) and Gonzaga (11) rounded out the poll. The Lions placed senior Tyler Torano on the All-WCC preseason team.

The 2014 West Coast Conference Golf Championships will be held at the Gold Mountain Golf Club in Bremerton, Wash. The tournament runs April 14-16. For more details, click here.

2014 WEST COAST CONFERENCE PRESEASON POLL

2014 PRESEASON ALL-WEST COAST CONFERENCE TEAM