Go west, young Jaguars: AU golf joins West Coast Conference
By Rodrigo Burgos Avila | Editor in chief
A new chapter is underway for Augusta University’s golf programs.
Both the men and women’s teams will officially join the West Coast Conference (WCC) for NCAA Division I play, bringing the Jaguars into a new competitive field of elite programs based largely in the West Coast.
The move marks a major shift for Augusta Golf and one that players believe will help raise the bar even higher.
“We’re really excited about joining the WCC. It feels like the natural next step for our program, especially after winning three Southland Conference titles back-to-back. That success did not happen overnight. Coach Steven Paine has been huge for us, pushing us to get better every day and building a culture where we expect to compete at the highest level,” said Dean Wilken of the men’s team. “Being in the WCC means we’ll face stronger competition at the end of the year, which can only help us grow and get even better. It’s a big challenge, but we’re ready for it. Our program has an amazing history and we’re starting a brand new chapter.”
The West Coast Conference includes nationally recognized schools like Pepperdine (the 2021 NCAA men’s golf national champions), Gonzaga and BYU, along with LMU, Pacific University, San Diego University, University of San Francisco, University of Santa Clara, University of Portland, and Saint Mary’s College of California. It is a group with serious pedigree, and it represents a chance for Augusta’s golfers to test themselves against a new slate of competition and courses.
“We are super excited to join the West Coast Conference and have an opportunity to compete against some really good teams for a conference championship,” said Bo Blanchard II, who is coming off a standout summer that included a win at the Georgia Amateur Championship, which is one of the toughest amateur titles to win in a state known for its golf.
On the women’s side, the enthusiasm is just as high.
“The West Coast Conference is a tougher conference,” said junior Sara Adams. “For the program, this means that we have to expand all of our areas of expertise. It should push us harder every day in practice and push us to get better through every tournament leading up to conference. I’m excited to travel to the West Coast for conference and compete against a lot of teams I’ve never played against. It’ll be a really cool experience and hopefully we get to play a nice course that’s different than what we’re used to in the South.”
For Marine Legentil, the move is all about growth for Coach Ember Holloway’s program.
“I think it’ll be great for us because we get to compete against teams we’ve never played with before and it can only make us better,” Legentil said. “I’m looking forward to playing courses I’ve never played before at the Conference Champs and hopefully play in a state I’ve never played in before.”
The move to the WCC represents a bold new direction for Augusta golf, one built on a strong foundation and full of opportunity. For a program with one individual and two team national championships already in its history, the West is calling and the Jags are ready to answer.
AU won team national titles in 2010 and 2011, and Broc Everett won the individual crown in 2018.
Before the Jaguars were in the Southland Conference, they dominated the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.
Contact Rodrigo Burgos Avila at rburgosavila@augusta.edu.
Reigning Southland conference medalists Zoe Pinillos (above) and Bo Blanchard II (top of the page) will take their games to the highly competitive West Coast Conference. (Bell Ringer file photos)
