Golf Channel to Televise Nearly 20 Hours of Coverage of the Western Intercollegiate Presented by Topgolf, Monday-Wednesday, April 15-17
Taking Place at Pasatiempo Golf Club in Santa Cruz, Calif., the Western Intercollegiate Presented by Topgolf One of the Longest-Running Collegiate Events in the U.S.
Headlined by World’s Top-Ranked Amateur Justin Suh (USC) and No. 4 Collin Morikawa (California); 13-Team Field to Compete in Prestigious 54-Hole Event
ORLANDO, Fla., (April 4, 2019) — GOLF Channel today announced its coverage plans for the Western Intercollegiate presented by Topgolf — one of the longest-running men’s collegiate golf championships in the country — dedicating nearly 20 hours of tournament coverage Monday-Wednesday, April 15-17. Taking place at Pasatiempo Golf Club in Santa Cruz, Calif., the 13-team field competing in the 54-hole stroke play event will feature two of world’s top-ranked amateurs: No. 1 Justin Suh (USC) and No. 4 Collin Morikawa (University of California).
“The Western Intercollegiate has such a storied history in Northern California, and to be a part of the team broadcasting this championship on GOLF Channel and showcasing the hidden gem that is Pasatiempo Golf Club to a worldwide audience is as good as it gets for me,” said Arron Oberholser, GOLF Channel analyst and San José State alumnus. “I look forward to joining my GOLF Channel colleagues in kicking off our college golf swing heading into the NCAA Golf Championships.”
Hosted by San José State University, the 73rd Western Intercollegiate kicks off GOLF Channel’s six weeks of college golf coverage culminating with the NCAA Division I Women’s and Men’s Golf Championships in May. In total, combined with this week’s Augusta National Women’s Amateur and the East Lake Cup collegiate match play championship in October, GOLF Channel is airing more than 50 hours of college and amateur golf coverage in 2019, the most of any television network.
GOLF Channel’s live tournament coverage of the Western Intercollegiate — a 54-hole stroke play team and individual championship — will air in primetime Monday and Tuesday, April 15-16, from 7-10 p.m. ET and on Wednesday, April 17 from 4-7 p.m. ET.
WORLD’S TOP-RANKED AMATEUR JUSTIN SUH (USC) HEADLINES ELITE 13-TEAM FIELD
The Western Intercollegiate, entering its 73rd year and one of the premier events on the spring golf calendar, will be the final regular season event for the 13-team field prior to the start of conference championships. Boasting the world’s top-ranked amateur Justin Suh (USC) and the world’s fourth-ranked amateur, Collin Morikawa (California), the field features four teams currently ranked in the top-20 nationally: USC (6), California (11), Stanford (16) and Pepperdine (18).
The 2019 Western Intercollegiate presented by Topgolf field:
- University of Arizona
- University of California
- University of California-Irvine
- Colorado State University
- University of Hawaii
- University of Oregon
- Pepperdine University
- San José State University
- San Diego State University
- University of Southern California
- Stanford University
- University of Texas-El Paso
- University of Washington
The individual medalist at the Western Intercollegiate receives the coveted blue jacket, honoring legendary Pasatiempo Golf Club course designer Alister MacKenzie, also the designer of Augusta National Golf Club.
The tournament’s rich history features past champions Johnny Miller, Mark O’Meara, Peter Jacobsen, and San José State alums Ken Venturi, Arron Oberholser and Mark Lye. Recent individual champions include Norman Xiong (2018), Justin Suh (2017), Maverick McNealy (2016), Scottie Scheffler (2015) and Patrick Rodgers (2012). In total, players who have competed in the Western Intercollegiate account for more than 350 PGA TOUR victories and 39 major championships, including past participants Tiger Woods, Jon Rahm, Jordan Spieth, Tom Watson, Steve Stricker, Roger Maltbie and Duffy Waldorf.
GOLF CHANNEL COVERAGE AND BROADCAST TEAM
GOLF Channel will televise nine hours of live tournament coverage April 15-17, with replays in primetime on the West Coast. Golf Central, the network’s daily news program, will provide wraparound news coverage of the tournament, complemented by digital and social media coverage. Bob Papa and Curt Byrum will call the action from the broadcast booth. Steve Burkowski will report from an on-course tower, with Billy Ray Brown and 1996 Western Intercollegiate champion Arron Oberholser reporting from the course.
GOLF Channel / Western Intercollegiate Coverage (all times ET)
| Monday, April 15 |
Round 1, Stroke Play |
7-10 p.m. (Live) / Midnight – 3 a.m (Replay) |
| Tuesday, April 16 |
Round 2, Stroke Play |
7-10 p.m. (Live) / 1-4 a.m. (Replay) |
| Wednesday, April 17 |
Final Round, Stroke Play |
4-7 p.m. (Live) / Midnight-3 a.m.(Replay) |
DIGITAL AND SOCIAL MEDIA COVERAGE
Golf Channel’s on-site social media coverage will include dedicated Facebook Live activations, as well as Instagram and Twitter content via the network’s social media handles. Social media correspondent Nikki Bondura (Nikki B.) will contribute to the network’s social media channels with live activations on-site with on-air personalities and players in the field. GOLF Channel also will integrate social media into Western Intercollegiate live tournament coverage. Fans also can stay connected with the championship on social media using the hashtag #WesternIntercollegiate.
News and tournament coverage of the Western Intercollegiate will be streamed live via GOLF Channel Digital. GOLF Channel associate editor and college writer Brentley Romine will report on-site from Pasatiempo Golf Club with daily reports, blogs and columns for Golf Channel Digital, with senior writer Ryan Lavner contributing to Golf Central’s wraparound news coverage. Complete information on the Western Intercollegiate can be found on the tournament website here.
GOLF Channel is the television home for college golf, including the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Division I Golf National Championships, the East Lake Cup Collegiate Match Play Championship and the Western Intercollegiate presented by Topgolf. The network has provided live coverage of the men’s national championships since 2014 and the women’s national championships since 2015, which now are hosted at the same venue in consecutive weeks in May. GOLF Channel also presents the East Lake Cup, a three-day fall championship that invites the eight semifinalists from the previous NCAA men’s and women’s golf championships. The East Lake Cup is hosted at historic East Lake Cup Golf in Atlanta, Ga., and benefits the East Lake Foundation. In addition, GOLF Channel deploys its comprehensive portfolio of news, digital and social media coverage year-round in covering collegiate golf, including specials for regional and national qualifying and on-site and wraparound news from golf’s biggest college events.
Also in 2019, GOLF Channel will premiere season two of Driven, a four-part documentary series that will follow the journeys of the University of Alabama men’s golf team and their “Iron Bowl” rivalry with Auburn University as they look to return to the NCAA Golf National Championships in May. The documentary also will follow reigning NCAA national champions Oklahoma State Cowboys as they look to defend their 2018 title. Season two of Driven is co-executive produced by PGA TOUR superstars Rickie Fowler and Justin Thomas.
ABOUT NBC SPORTS GROUP’S GOLF DIVISION
NBC Sports Group’s GOLF division delivers multimedia golf content, technology and services. Anchored by GOLF Channel – co-founded by Arnold Palmer in 1995 – GOLF content is available to nearly 500 million viewers in nine languages across more than 70 countries around the world. GOLF features more live golf coverage than all other U.S. networks combined, including global tournament action from the PGA TOUR, LPGA Tour, European Tour, NCAA, THE PLAYERS, The Open, Olympics, Presidents Cup and Ryder Cup, as well as high-quality news, instruction and original programming. Delivering unmatched coverage from the world of golf via GOLF Digital, fans can access GOLF’s 24/7 live streaming through the NBC Sports App, as well as complementary coverage via PGA TOUR LIVE on NBC Sports Gold. In addition to these all-encompassing media platforms, NBC Sports connects the world to golf through a wide array of technology and lifestyle services, including: GOLFNOW, the world’s largest online tee time booking platform; GOLF Business Solutions, solving business needs through leading technology, marketing and services; Revolution GOLF, the world’s largest direct-to-consumer digital platform in golf, offering best-in-class video instruction and game improvement products; GOLF Advisor, the ultimate digital destination for the traveling golfer, featuring the largest number of user-generated golf course ratings and reviews in the industry; a North American network of GOLF Academy instructional facilities; and GOLF Am Tour, the world’s largest amateur golf tour. GOLF’s global reach includes its world headquarters in Orlando; an international office in Belfast; regional offices across North America, Europe and Australia; collaborations with Sky Sports and serving as the Official Media Partner of St Andrews Links.
ABOUT TOPGOLF
Topgolf is a global sports entertainment community creating great times for all. With a worldwide fan base of nearly 100 million, Topgolf prides itself on its special blend of technology, entertainment, food and beverage and the inherent good that can be accomplished when a community of all walks of life comes together.
The first brand expression of this togetherness is a Topgolf venue. These multi-level complexes feature high-tech golf balls and gaming, climate-controlled hitting bays, renowned menu, hand-crafted cocktails, events, music and more. The nearly 52 U.S. venues, along with four international venues, entertain more than 17 million Guests annually.
Beyond the venues, Topgolf fits seamlessly into the lives of our engaged community with emerging brands such as Topgolf Swing Suite, a luxury simulator experience; Toptracer, real-time tracking as seen on TV; Toptracer Range, bringing the tracing technology to driving ranges around the world; and WGT, the world’s largest digital golf audience. As a growing lifestyle brand, Topgolf is discovering new ways to engage and delight our Guests through original content series, pop up social experiences like Topgolf Crush, and even through building music venues like The Cowan in Nashville.
To learn more and join the fun, follow @Topgolf or visit www.topgolf.com.
ABOUT SAN JOSÉ STATE UNIVERSITY MEN’S GOLF
San José State University’s standing in NCAA Division I men’s golf is well-established. The Spartans have a 1948 NCAA team championship and placed in the top-10 14 more times. NCAA champions Bob Harris in 1948 and Terry Small in 1964 headline 11 top-10 Spartan individual finishers at the national championship. San José State alums have stayed in the game and pursued careers as broadcast commentators, teaching pros, club professionals, coaches for all skill levels, and successful amateur and professional players. Since 1947, San José State has served as the host of the annual Western Intercollegiate, played at the Pasatiempo Golf Club in Santa Cruz, California.
ABOUT THE PASATIEMPO GOLF CLUB
From greens that have challenged generations of golfers including Bobby Jones, Ken Venturi, Juli Inkster, and Tiger Woods, to rich golf history and breathtaking scenery, Pasatiempo Golf Club delivers a memorable golf experience: it is truly one of the finest championship golf courses in the world. Designed by world-renowned golf architect Alister MacKenzie, Pasatiempo has hosted the western Intercollegiate and USGA Championships including the 1986 U.S. Women’s Amateur and the 2004 U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur.