Fresno State at Alister MacKenzie Invite
Oct. 7-8 • Alister MacKenzie Invite • Fairfax, CA
Live Stats: GolfStat.com
Twitter (X): @FresnoStateMG
FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno State men's golf team will travel north to compete in the Alister MacKenzie Invite hosted by Cal at the 6,611-yard, par 71 Meadow Club.
THE SCHEDULE
Monday, Oct. 7 – 8 a.m. PT, shotgun start
Tuesday, Oct. 8 – 8 a.m. PT, shotgun start
THE FIELD
The 16-team field includes Cal, Cal Poly, Fresno State, Hawai'i, Minnesota, Nevada, Pacific, San Diego, San Jose State, Santa Clara, South Dakota State, St. Mary's, UC Davis, UC Santa Barbara, Texas El Paso and Stanford.
Fresno State will be paired with UC Davis, Santa Clara, and San Jose State.
THE LINEUP
Joseph Lloyd – 72.6 season scoring average
Ryan Firpo – 72 season scoring average
Jaden Hunter – 73.1 season scoring average
Jake Bettencourt – 76.6 season scoring average
Mason Benbrook – 73.3 season scoring average
LAST TIME
The Fresno State men's golf team finished 15th at the William H. Tucker Invitational, scoring a 32-over 896 at the UNM Championship Course.
Ryan Firpo posted the highest finish for the Bulldogs, the sophomore tied for 19th with a score of 2-over 218.
Jaden Hunter was 7-over, Joseph Lloyd finished 10-over, Jake Bettencourt shot 14-over and Chris Bettencourt was 17-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 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. 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 Lane Pulliam, both Fresno State alumni, take a lot of pride in upholding the program's tradition.