The University of Redlands and Bulldog Athletics would like to take a moment to celebrate the six men's golf seniors whose spring season was sadly cut short due to the swiftly changing conditions of the current time.
In the 2018-19 season, with a mix of remarkable ability and consistency, these seniors received a No. 8 ranking on GolfStat, the highest in recent history. That year the team also received one of seven at-large bids to the NCAA Division III Championships in Nicholasville, Kentucky, which marked their first appearance since the 2015 season. The team finished in 17th place at the high caliber event.
First, we honor a four-year contributor on Bulldog men's golf. He helped the team to consistently being ranked amongst the top 25 on GolfStat all four years. Most recently he took part in the 2019 Bulldog Fall Invitational, shooting a 253 (84-83-86). He is set to graduate with a degree in International Relations and Political Science, coming to Redlands all the way from Bogota, Colombia, Julio Gomez!
Next, we honor a four-year competitor whose best round came during his first year where he competed against high-caliber opponents at the CSU San Bernardino Coyote Classic and Sacramento State Invitational. He also made his mark in the classroom on the SCIAC All-Academic Men's Golf Team and became a Redlands Scholar-Athlete during his rookie campaign. This senior arrives from Park City, Utah, and studied Business Administration, Jake Kasel!
Next, we honor a senior who had one of his best showings at the 2017 SCIAC No. 2 Tournament at Oak Quarry Golf Course in Riverside. With precision and skill, he earned top medalist honors by signing his scorecard with a 144 that included day two's lowest round of 70. Arriving from Ellsworth, Wisconsin, he is set to graduate with a degree in Business Administration, Dylan Merchant!
Next up, this senior shined at the 2018 SCIAC No. 1 Tournament at Olivas Links Golf Course in Ventura. He put together an impressive showing with a tied-for-fifth place score of 144 (66-78). His first day, tournament-best round of 66 ranks among the top four in Redlands' men's golf history. Most recently he led the team to a second-place finish at the 2020 SCIAC No. 1 with an individual tied-for-third place finish of 147. He impressed with 23 pars, which ranked second in the field. This SCIAC All-Academic team member is set to graduate with a degree in Business Administration, all the way from Santiago, Chile, Diego Cortes!
Now, we honor a four-year contributor who shot one of his best rounds during his sophomore season at the SCIAC No. 1 Tournament at Los Serranos Golf Course. He tied-for-first with a pair of 71s for a two-under-par. Earlier this season he led the team shooting a tied-for-10th score of 216 (74-73-69) at the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Invitational. He led the field on par fives shooting seven-under for a 4.22 average and recorded an awesome 11 birdies. This two-time All-SCIAC team member will graduate with a degree in Business Administration. Hailing from Seattle, Washington, Cameron Cooper.
Finally, it's time to recognize a four-year ace who has racked up multiple conference and national awards. In 2018, this senior earned medalist honors with a breakthrough performance at the SCIAC Championships. In 2019 at the Marymount California University Fall Invite he found his rhythm early with a career-best tally of 201 for a gold-medal effort. He came out of the gates with a tournament-low 66 in the first round which ranks in the top four in Redlands history. Later that year he went on to take second place at the high-caliber West Cup. He sank an eagle and drained 32 pars in a solid effort. Also in 2019, this senior garnered national attention by the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) with spots among the NCAA Division III PING All-West Region Team and the best in the nation as an Honorable Mention All-American. This competitor also ranks in Redlands Top 20 of all time with a single-season average of 74.07. This two-time SCIAC First-Teamer looks forward to graduating with a degree in Media, Visual, and Culture Studies, from Peterborough, New Hampshire, Jake Hollander!
Congratulations, Bulldog seniors! On behalf of the University community, the Bulldog men's golf program, and the Athletics Department, we thank you for your commitment and involvement as Bulldogs for Life. We wish you all the best!