'Dogs host Nick Watney Invitational

Nick Watney Invitational
Feb. 24-25 • Sunnyside CC • Fresno, CA
Live Stats: Scoreboard
Twitter (X): @FresnoStateMG

FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno State men's golf team will host the Nick Watney Invitational February 24-25 at the Par 72, 6,938-yard Sunnyside Country Club.

SCHEDULE
Monday, Feb. 24 – 8:15 a.m. PT, shotgun start
Tuesday, Feb. 25 – 8:15 a.m. PT, shotgun start

THE FIELD
The 13-team field includes Air Force, CSUN, Cal Poly, Fresno State, Idaho, Pacific, Sacramento State, San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Clara, Southern Utah, UC San Diego and Utah Valley.

Fresno State will be paired with Pacific, Santa Clara and San Diego for the first two rounds.

THE LINEUP

Indv. Mason Benbrook

LAST TIME
Fresno State finished 10th at the John A. Burns Intercollegiate with an overall score of 13-over 853.

Joseph Lloyd led the squad, finishing 14th with a 3-under 207. Jaden Hunter finished 6-over, Chris Bettencourt was 9-over, James Watney shot 10-over, and Ryan Firpo ended at 12-over.

TEE-RIFIC START
Freshman Chris Bettencourt became the second Bulldog to win the opening tournament of his career, shooting an impressive 13-under 203 to claim the Southern Dunes Invitational title.

Competing as an individual, Bettencourt posted a 68 in the first round, 67 in the second round and a 68 in the third round.

BACK ON THE GREEN
Fresno State has five returners, including 2024 Mountain West Freshman of the Year Ryan Firpo.

Firpo competed in all 12 tournaments for the Bulldogs, owning a 72.8 scoring average. He logged two Top 25 finishes during the season. Firpo was named Mountain West Freshman of the Week on April 18.

Joseph Lloyd competed in all 12 tournaments for the Bulldogs in 2023-24. He owned a 71.8 scoring average. Lloyd finished in second place at the prestigious Maui Jim Intercollegiate after shooting a career-low 17-under 196, setting a new program record. He recorded two Top 5 finishes and four Top 20 finishes.

NEW TO THE COURSE
Fresno State bolsters its roster with three new additions, including two freshmen and one transfer, all hailing from the Valley.

James Watney transferred to Fresno State after spending his freshman season at Saint Mary's. He competed in six tournaments and finished with a 73.6 stroke average as a true freshman. Watney recorded two top-30 finishes and placed a season-best 28th at the National Invitational Tournament hosted by Arizona. He led Saint Mary's with a 7-under-par performance and an 11th place team finish at the National Invitational Tournament.

Watney, a native of Clovis, Calif., was a four-year letter winner at Buchanan High School and a two-time Tri-River Athletic League Team honoree. He also qualified for the U.S. Junior Amateur two years in a row.

Steven Rivera graduated from Bullard High School (Fresno, Calif), where he was a first team All-CMAC selection. He owned the low individual scoring average as he helped lead the Knights to a Valley Championship.

Chris Bettencourt graduated from Buchanan High School (Clovis, Calif.). He is the brother of current Bulldog Jake Bettencourt.

FAMILY LINKS
The Fresno State men's golf program stands on tradition, hard work and brotherhood. It has since its inaugural season in 1959 and the Bulldogs' 2024-'25 roster includes a number of connections to the program's past, as legacies look to uphold that tradition and make their own mark on the golf course and the program.

There's James Watney, the grandson of legendary Fresno State golf coach Mike Watney, son of Josh Watney and cousin of Nick Watney, both former Bulldogs' golfers. Jake and Chris Bettencourt are the sons of three-time All-American Jon Bettencourt.

Coach Chad Spencer and assistant coach Michael Cliff, both Fresno State alumni, take a lot of pride in upholding the program's tradition.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Mason Benbrook

Chris Bettencourt

Jake Bettencourt

Ryan Firpo

Jaden Hunter

Joseph Lloyd

Steven Rivera

James Watney