FORT COLLINS, Colo. – The Wichita State men's golf team will open the 2022 season the same way they kicked off 2021, with a trip to Fort Collins Country Club for the Ram Masters Invitational on Monday, September 19 and Tuesday, September 20. The Shockers finished in a tie for sixth at last year's event.

Head Coach Judd Easterling has been pleased with the team's culture after intense and competitive team qualifying rounds.

"I was just proud of how hard we competed," Easterling said. "The scores were really good, but everybody got along and was respectful. There was a lot of cheering for each other, a lot of fist bumps. Golf is a gentlemen's game and we saw that through those six rounds. I just stayed out of the way." 

The Shockers will have three newcomers in the five-man starting lineup, though all three have collegiate experience. Junior Blake Winslow joins the Shockers after transferring from Oklahoma, while juniors Aston Castillo and J.T. Pittman make their Shocker debut after arriving from junior college powerhouse Midland College. Joining the trio is sophomore Michael Winslow and sophomore Lucas Scheufler, both regulars in the starting lineup for Wichita State down the stretch in the spring. Scheufler led the Shockers by finishing in a tie for 12th at last season's Ram Masters.

"I think we're just a bunch of dogs," Easterling said. "Just hard-working dudes, blue-collar, great human beings who are fun to be around. Golf's hard enough as it is. I think they've bought in to this competitive environment. They've got their teammates that have their back and those are the guys they want to go to war with."

The par-70, 7,234-yard course at Fort Collins Country Club will be familiar to the Shockers, who have competed each of the ten years that the event has existed, minus a one-year hiatus in 2020 for the COVID-19 pandemic. WSU won the inaugural event in 2012, though host Colorado State has claimed the title each of the past seven years.

"It's a really great golf course, probably the best greens we'll putt on," Easterling said. "It's similar to Wichita Country Club, easy to walk with good turf. It's a joy to go there, the members are great and Colorado State does a outstanding job hosting."
 
The field of 15 teams will play 36 holes on Monday and the final 18 on Tuesday. Fans can follow live scoring via golfstat.
 
Shocker golfers will be paired with South Dakota State on Monday and are scheduled to tee off from holes 8 and 9, beginning at 9 a.m. CT.
 

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Ram Masters Invitational Fast Facts:
Dates: Monday-Tuesday, Sep. 19-20, 2022
Host: Colorado State
Location: Fort Collins, Colo. (Fort Collins Country Club)
Yardage: 7,234 Yard
Par: 70
Format: 54 Holes (36 Monday, 18 Tuesday)
Start Times: Round 1 (9 a.m. CT; Shotgun), Round 3 (Tee Times from 9-11 a.m. CT from holes 1 & 10).
Live Scoring: golfstat
The Field: 15 teams
Air Force, Cal State Fullerton, Colorado State, Creighton, Gonzaga, Northern Colorado, Pacific, Sacramento State, South Dakota State, Texas A&M-Commerce, UC San Diego, Utah Valley, Wichita State, Wyoming (and individuals from Colorado).
 

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Shocker Lineup:
Michael Winslow (So.) – Joined team as a freshman last spring...improved score from opening round to final round in all six events.
Lucas Scheufler (So.) – Had a sub-75 stroke average as a freshman...notched two top-five finishes.
J.T. Pittman (Jr.) – Midland College transfer making his Shocker debut...won NJCAA individual national championship in May.
Aston Castillo (Jr.) – Midland College transfer making his Shocker debut...won NJCAA individual national championship in May.
Blake Lorenz (Jr.) – Oklahoma transfer making his Shocker debut.
 

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Head Coach Judd Easterling on….
 
… Blake Lorenz:
"He's got a little swag to him, he's got some confidence. He hits it a long ways. We've already seen he can go low in any round, he's got the ability to shoot 65 any round. He plays a confident game, he likes to hit driver a lot and plays loose."
 
… J.T. Pittman:
"Calm, cool and collected. Very humble and grateful young man, he's just a West Texas 'yes sir, no sir' type of kid. He's very consistent. He's going to live 68-72."
 
… Aston Castillo:
"A little more outgoing young man, but very appreciative of his opportunity here. Just a fun guy to be around who fits in great with our culture here."