Photo by: Columbia University Athletics
Wyatt McGovern to Compete in Genesis Collegiate Showcase
2/12/2022 8:26:00 PM | Men's Golf
Lions to become the first Ivy League school to participate; Yearly event provides a pathway to the PGA Tour Event.
PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif.—First-year Wyatt McGovern will represent and compete for the Columbia Men's Golf program in its first appearance in the prestigious Genesis Invitational Collegiate Showcase held on Monday, Feb. 14 at the Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, Calif. McGovern will also become the first Ivy League player to compete in the one-of-a-kind event.
Previously, a Columbia player was scheduled to compete in the 2021 Genesis Showcase, but due to the cancelation of the 2020-21 season to COVID-19, the Lions deferred to the 2022 event, according to Columbia Head Coach Rich Mueller.
"This is an amazing opportunity for our school and our players," Mueller said. "It's also a unique and exciting way to engage our alumni and friends of the program. To say that we now can offer our players a direct pathway to playing in a PGA Tour event is a huge deal. And, thanks to the generous support from our alumni, we couldn't be prouder that Columbia will be the first Ivy League school to participate in this event."
McGovern will appear in his first competition this spring. He finished the 2021 fall campaign with a 73.06 stroke average (621 in 8.5 rounds), registered four top-25 finishes and two top-10 finishes. He also posted Columbia's low score of the fall, a 67 at the Columbia Autumn Invitational. McGovern also tied for first at the Metropolitan Intercollegiate.
The Genesis Invitational Collegiate Showcase provides an opportunity for a collegiate golfer to play their way into The Genesis Invitational, and simultaneously, help win a $50,000 donation to support their university's golf program. The pro-am style event pairs a college golfer, with two of his institution's alumni, and PGA Tour pro to form a team. The team's professional and amateurs play a best-ball round against other teams. The low team earns a $50,000 donation back to the school's golf program. Additionally, the low collegiate golfer will receive an exemption into the 2021 Genesis Invitational and will round out the field of 120 players.
The 2022 Collegiate Showcase marks the eighth year of the annual event. Past team champions of the Collegiate Showcase include USC (2020), San Jose State (2019), Texas (2018 and 2016), Pepperdine (2017), and Oregon (2015). Individual collegiate champions who earned an exemption into The Genesis Invitational include Sean Yu (San Jose State) in 2020, Lukas Euler (Kentucky) in 2019, Scottie Scheffler (Texas) in 2018, Sahith Theegala (Pepperdine) in 2017, Charlie Danielson (Illinois) in 2016 and Will Zalatoris (Wake Forest) in 2015.
Other collegiate golf programs which have competed in the past include Arizona, Arizona State, Baylor, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Northwestern, Oklahoma State, Oregon, Pepperdine, San Jose State, Texas, Texas A&M, UCLA, UNLV, USC, Wake Forest, Washington and Wyoming. PGA TOUR pros who have competed include Paul Casey, Luke Donald, Jim Furyk, Bill Haas, Charley Hoffman, J.B. Holmes, Beau Hossler, Jordan Spieth, Jimmy Walker and more.
More information on the event is available this link.
Previously, a Columbia player was scheduled to compete in the 2021 Genesis Showcase, but due to the cancelation of the 2020-21 season to COVID-19, the Lions deferred to the 2022 event, according to Columbia Head Coach Rich Mueller.
"This is an amazing opportunity for our school and our players," Mueller said. "It's also a unique and exciting way to engage our alumni and friends of the program. To say that we now can offer our players a direct pathway to playing in a PGA Tour event is a huge deal. And, thanks to the generous support from our alumni, we couldn't be prouder that Columbia will be the first Ivy League school to participate in this event."
McGovern will appear in his first competition this spring. He finished the 2021 fall campaign with a 73.06 stroke average (621 in 8.5 rounds), registered four top-25 finishes and two top-10 finishes. He also posted Columbia's low score of the fall, a 67 at the Columbia Autumn Invitational. McGovern also tied for first at the Metropolitan Intercollegiate.
The Genesis Invitational Collegiate Showcase provides an opportunity for a collegiate golfer to play their way into The Genesis Invitational, and simultaneously, help win a $50,000 donation to support their university's golf program. The pro-am style event pairs a college golfer, with two of his institution's alumni, and PGA Tour pro to form a team. The team's professional and amateurs play a best-ball round against other teams. The low team earns a $50,000 donation back to the school's golf program. Additionally, the low collegiate golfer will receive an exemption into the 2021 Genesis Invitational and will round out the field of 120 players.
The 2022 Collegiate Showcase marks the eighth year of the annual event. Past team champions of the Collegiate Showcase include USC (2020), San Jose State (2019), Texas (2018 and 2016), Pepperdine (2017), and Oregon (2015). Individual collegiate champions who earned an exemption into The Genesis Invitational include Sean Yu (San Jose State) in 2020, Lukas Euler (Kentucky) in 2019, Scottie Scheffler (Texas) in 2018, Sahith Theegala (Pepperdine) in 2017, Charlie Danielson (Illinois) in 2016 and Will Zalatoris (Wake Forest) in 2015.
Other collegiate golf programs which have competed in the past include Arizona, Arizona State, Baylor, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Northwestern, Oklahoma State, Oregon, Pepperdine, San Jose State, Texas, Texas A&M, UCLA, UNLV, USC, Wake Forest, Washington and Wyoming. PGA TOUR pros who have competed include Paul Casey, Luke Donald, Jim Furyk, Bill Haas, Charley Hoffman, J.B. Holmes, Beau Hossler, Jordan Spieth, Jimmy Walker and more.
More information on the event is available this link.
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