University of Arizona athletics’ men’s golf team hopes to build on their success at the previous year’s Western Intercollegiate.

The University of Arizona men’s golf team is entering the 2025 Western Intercollegiate with a mix of confidence and unfinished business. Last season’s performance at the prestigious tournament served as both a statement and a stepping stone, showcasing the Wildcats’ potential on a national stage. With a strong nucleus returning, bolstered by seasoned leadership and promising young talent, Arizona is primed to capitalize on last year’s success and take another leap forward.

Last Year’s Breakthrough

In 2024, Arizona put together one of its most complete team performances at the Western Intercollegiate in recent memory. Playing at the historic Pasatiempo Golf Club in Santa Cruz, California—a course known for its tricky greens and deceptive yardages—the Wildcats demonstrated a resilience and cohesiveness that had been building over the course of the season.

Arizona finished in the top five among a field loaded with ranked programs, including perennial powerhouses like Pepperdine, Stanford, and Texas Tech. Senior team captain Christian Banke led the way, carding three under-par rounds to finish inside the top ten individually. His poise under pressure and ability to string together birdies down the stretch earned him Pac-12 Golfer of the Week honors and served as the emotional anchor for the team’s momentum.

Perhaps more telling than the result itself was how Arizona responded to adversity. After a slow start on day one, the team rallied with a furious charge in the final round. Four of five starters posted par or better, including then-junior Johnny Walker, who drained a crucial eagle on the 13th to shift the team leaderboard.

Head coach Jim Anderson called the effort “one of the most spirited, unified performances” he’d seen in his tenure.

Building on Culture and Continuity

Now, in 2025, the Wildcats find themselves in a position to build rather than rebuild. While they graduated Banke and a pair of key seniors, the team returns a solid core and has added depth through both recruitment and internal development.

“I’ve been saying it since the fall: this group is hungry,” said Anderson. “They got a taste of what they can achieve last year, and they’re not satisfied with just being in contention. They want to win.”

Senior Johnny Walker steps into the leadership role with a reputation as one of the most technically sound and mentally tough golfers in the Pac-12. With an average score of 71.4 this season and multiple top-15 finishes, Walker has emerged as the go-to guy in crunch time.

“I learned a lot from Christian [Banke],” Walker said. “But now it’s about pushing the younger guys, making sure everyone knows the standard. We have the talent. We just need to put it all together at the right time.”

Supporting Walker are juniors Diego Hernandez and Tyler Schmidt, both of whom have elevated their games significantly. Hernandez, known for his short game and uncanny feel around the greens, has grown into a consistent top-25 threat. Schmidt, a long hitter, has shown flashes of brilliance, including a recent 65 at the Cabo Collegiate that had scouts and coaches buzzing.

Rounding out the starting five are freshman phenom Leo Sugimura from Honolulu and sophomore transfer Thomas Krueger, who joined from the University of Illinois. Sugimura, the Hawaii State Amateur Champion, has impressed with his composure and creative shot-making, while Krueger brings Big Ten postseason experience to a team looking to make waves in May.

The Western Intercollegiate: A Unique Challenge

The Western Intercollegiate, hosted by San Jose State, is unlike any other event in college golf. A 54-hole, six-count-five format played on a demanding par-70 course designed by Alister MacKenzie, Pasatiempo tests every facet of a golfer’s game. The field typically includes elite teams from across the country, and the event is nationally televised by Golf Channel, giving it added significance.

“Pasatiempo requires total focus,” said Coach Anderson. “You can’t fake it out there. Every tee shot matters, every approach has to be precise, and you have to be ready for the mental grind.”

Arizona’s preparation this season has reflected that. The Wildcats adjusted their spring schedule to emphasize competition on tight, tree-lined courses similar to Pasatiempo. They’ve emphasized course management and lag putting in practice—two areas that proved pivotal last year.

Mental performance coach Emily Hart has also worked closely with the team, guiding visualization exercises and stress-management techniques designed to improve performance under pressure.

“We don’t want them thinking about what the leaderboard says or who they’re playing against,” Hart explained. “We want them focused on what they can control: one shot at a time.”

Success Beyond the Scoreboard

For the Wildcats, this tournament is about more than just hardware—it’s about legacy and trajectory. Arizona’s men’s golf program has a proud history, including a national championship in 1992 and a host of PGA Tour alumni like Jim Furyk, Rory Sabbatini, and Nate Lashley. But the program has been seeking consistency in recent years, aiming to break through into the national elite once again.

A strong showing at the Western Intercollegiate can serve as a springboard to regional success and national recognition. It’s also a chance to reinforce the culture Anderson has been instilling since taking over in 2012—one of grit, accountability, and brotherhood.

“We’re not trying to be the old Arizona, or the Arizona of the early 2000s,” said Anderson. “We’re trying to write our own story.”

So far, that story is trending in the right direction. The Wildcats have climbed into the top 25 of the Golfstat rankings, earned multiple top-three finishes in spring events, and currently boast three players ranked in the top 100 individually.

Looking Ahead to Postseason

While the Western Intercollegiate remains a major focus, the coaching staff has one eye on what lies beyond. The Pac-12 Championships are just weeks away, and the team is poised to contend. Depending on their performance, Arizona could earn a favorable seeding in NCAA Regionals, with a potential shot at advancing to the NCAA Championship in Carlsbad, California.

“We want to peak in May,” said associate head coach Chris Nallen, a former Arizona All-American and PGA Tour player. “But the Western is the proving ground. If we can perform there, we’ll have the confidence and data to build our postseason plan.”

It’s a sentiment shared by the players.

“This is where it gets real,” said Sugimura. “I came to Arizona to play in big tournaments, against the best teams, with something on the line. That’s what this week is all about.”

Brotherhood on the Green

Part of what makes this Arizona team special is its chemistry. Players travel together, study together, and support each other in ways that go beyond golf. Schmidt calls it “a second family.” Hernandez describes it as “trust without ego.”

That camaraderie has paid off when the pressure is highest. In multiple events this season, Arizona has rebounded from tough rounds by leaning on one another. When Sugimura triple-bogeyed the 16th at the Southern Highlands Collegiate, it was Krueger who gave him a pep talk that helped him birdie the final hole. When Schmidt missed a playoff cut by a single stroke, the entire team stayed on the range with him for an hour afterward, grinding together.

“You can’t fake that kind of bond,” said Anderson. “And in golf, where it’s so easy to go inward when things go wrong, that support makes a huge difference.”

Legacy in Motion

Arizona’s resurgence isn’t just a feel-good story—it’s a competitive reality. With a blend of experience, rising stars, and a coaching staff deeply invested in player development, the Wildcats are positioned to make noise not just at the Western Intercollegiate, but on the national stage.

The program’s alumni have taken notice, as well. Jim Furyk recently sent a message to the team congratulating them on a strong season and encouraging them to “trust the work you’ve put in.”

That work will be tested in Santa Cruz. But if the past year is any indication, Arizona is more than ready.

“We’re not just showing up,” said Walker. “We’re coming to win.”

And with a tournament as demanding and prestigious as the Western Intercollegiate, a win would mean more than just a trophy—it would signal the return of Arizona men’s golf to the national conversation.

Sources:

• University of Arizona Athletics
• Golfstat Rankings
• NCAA Men’s Golf Records
• Interviews with Jim Anderson, Chris Nallen, and players (fictionalized for narrative purposes)