Sept. 9, 2015
SAN BRUNO, Calif. - Gonzaga men's golfer, Sean Walsh, was named to the preseason All-West Coast Conference team Wednesday.
Walsh enters his senior season after a stellar summer which recently ended with his third straight appearance in the U.S. Amateur Championship. This is the second straight preseason All-WCC honor for the Keller, Texas native.
Walsh was named All-WCC honorable mention for the second straight season in 2015. He finished tied for 10th at the 2015 WCC Championships, and 11th in 2014. Walsh was named All-WCC in 2013, after being named the Conference Freshman of the Year with a third place finish at the conference championships.
Walsh has excelled in the classroom as well. He was named a Cleveland Golf/Srixon All-America Scholar and boasts a 3.31 GPA as a business administration major. He was tabbed Academic All-West Coast Conference in 2015.
As a team, the Zags were slated sixth in the conference's preseason poll. GU finished seventh at the WCC Championships last season. Gonzaga opened last year at eighth in the preseason poll.
Saint Mary's, Pepperdine and San Diego all shared the poll's first place votes. SMC led the poll with 59 points and four first place votes. Close behind was the defending champion, Pepperdine, with three first place votes and 55 points. USD was third with 49 points and a first place vote.
The Bulldogs open their schedule at the Saint Mary's Invitational Monday. The three-day tournament will be at the Poppy Hills Golf Club in Pebble Beach, Calif. The 2016 West Coast Conference Golf Championships will be held at Blackhawk Country Club in Danville, Calif. The tournament runs April 18-20.
2016 WCC Men's Golf Preseason Coaches Poll
Team (First Place Vote) |
| Pts. |
1. Saint Mary's | (4) | 59 |
2. Pepperdine | (3) | 55 |
3. San Diego | (1) | 49 |
3. Santa Clara | | 43 |
5. BYU | | 39 |
6. Gonzaga | | 24 |
7. Loyola Marymount | | 20 |
7. Pacific | | 20 |
9. San Francisco | | 15 |
2016 All-WCC Men's Golf Preseason Team
Name | Institution | Yr. |
Carlos Briones | Santa Clara | Sr. |
Connor Campbell | Loyola Marymount | Sr. |
Alex Chiarella | San Diego | Sr. |
Seb Crookall-Nixon | San Francisco | Sr. |
Jonathan De Los Reyes | Saint Mary's | Sr. |
Matt Lee | Pacific | Sr. |
Cody McManus | Pepperdine | Jr. |
Hayden Shieh | Santa Clara | So. |
Sean Walsh | Gonzaga | Sr. |
Frederick Wedel | Pepperdine | Sr. |