NORTH LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Vanguard Men's Golf left it all on the greens to close the year, piecing together a fourth-place finish at the 2026 Pacific West Conference Championships. The Lions leapt one spot over the final day, enlisting the third-best round in program history (286) to stake an 889 (297-306-286) total team score in the tournament. Kyle Koski was VU's frontrunner, claiming a podium finish in second place, the highest finish for a VU men's golfer in program history.

The team and individual PacWest Championship went to #28 Hawaii Hilo, who stood at a staggering seven under par (857) behind Dylan Bercan's rounds of 68-70-70. The Vulcans continue their dominance in the conference, marking a league-record fourth straight PacWest title. 

The Course:  Set at over 7,000 yards from the furthest tees, and set as a par-72, the course runs through a community but lets the not-too-distant arroyo creep into play, giving the participants unique angles and lies.  Two water features guard two holes, but the course is otherwise straightforward and invites golfers to set season-best scores.  Gary Panks designed the course, which is one of the newer ones in the area, as the facility opened on December 5, 2003.

What Happened? Koski tied VU's eighth-lowest round score in school history (70) in each of his opening two passes through the course. The sophomore launched a round-high six birdies in round one and followed day two up with a steadier 12 pars. UHH's Bercan was able to pull away by shots on the final day, but Koski still hit just one over par (73), locking in a total score of 213 (-3), tied for the fourth-best 54-hole performance in program history with fellow Lion Alexander Elia.  Koski finished second on par fives (4.50, -6) and total birdies (14). He also dished out 30 pars and was seventh on par threes (E), and eighth on par fours (4.10 +3).

Fisher Ransom found himself six shots behind, locking into eighth place with 219 strokes. Ransom had a more sporadic day one, with a cluster of birdies and pars setting his pace before an eventual +3 on the afternoon. In round two, Ransom penciled in a 76 total on the back of 10 pars, but it was day three where the senior truly set him apart. The El Cajon native tied the third-best round in school history with 68 strokes in the final round. Ransom would jump 11 spots and parred or birdied on all but two holes. He finished the tournament sixth in birdies with 12 and also stocked 29 pars. He matched Koski on par-fives (4.50, -6)   and was 26th on par threes (+3, 3.25).    

Tyler Williams took a tie for 26th overall with rounds of 77-78-73. His round one start was as sharp as any golfer on the docket, as he steered three birdies over his first five holes. It was a tougher last six holes, which placed his score at +5 for the day. Williams would lock down a strong finish in round three, as an eagle on his eighth hole set him up for a long stretch of pars to paint his best round. Williams had six total and 30 pars, matched only by Koski for VU. He was also ninth on par nine holes (-3, 4.75).

Alexander Elia wheeled in to 33rd, planting rounds of 81-82-72. He had seven birdies, which was nearly top-20 overall at the tournament, and also locked in 26 pars. Elia had a sharp conclusion in round three, tallying 13 pars and four birdies to go even (72)
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Charles Gulbe and Paul Howard rounded out the group, competing as alternates, with five birdies and 16 pars between them. Gulbe posted rounds of 75-82, while Howard shot 74 in his third-round appearance.

What Was Said?  "I'm very proud of our teams as we battled some tough conditions, especially Theresa and Kyle.  We are excited to continue to work hard and be ready for the 2026 Fall season," said Head Coach Jeff Anderson.