PULLMAN, Wash. – It was announced Wednesday, May 3, that Washington State men's golf senior Pono Yanagi was selected to play in the 2023 NCAA Morgan Hill Regional. Yanagi becomes the first Cougar to play in an NCAA Regional in 13 years.
Yanagi is just the third WSU men's golfer to play in an NCAA Regional as an individual. The Hilo, Hawaii native is also the first Coug to earn an NCAA Regional selection since Kevin Tucker, who went in back-to-back seasons in 2009 and 2010. Yanagi joins Tucker and Ryan Witz (2006) as the only WSU golfers to play in an NCAA Regional as an individual. Washington State did qualify for the NCAA Regionals as a team in 2002.
"I am so excited to be able to go and compete at the NCAA Regionals," said Yanagi. "It is something that we all work for and I am very fortunate to be able to go and represent WSU. I know that this will be an amazing opportunity and experience for me. I can't wait to go and soak it all in."
Yanagi had one of the more impressive single-season campaigns for the Cougars in 2022-23. The senior led the team in scoring average at 71.42 strokes per round, collected four top-10 finishes, and posted three top-five placements. Yanagi recently set the program record for the best finish at the Pac-12 Men's Golf Championship, as he concluded the 2023 Pac-12 Championship in third place. He collected the lowest score by a Coug at the Pac-12s by carding 12-under 268 at the Stanford Golf Course. Yanagi's season scoring average of 71.42 this season is the second-lowest average in program history, while his four top-10 finishes in 2022-23 are the seventh-most in a season in school history.
"This is such an exciting time and I'm so happy for Pono," said WSU Men's Golf Head Coach Dustin White. "He's worked extremely hard and has earned the opportunity to play in May. He's been such a big part of our program and Cougs should be proud to have someone like him representing WSU. His game is in a really good place right now and I know he's ready for more golf. Don't be surprised if see him at Grayhawk later this month."
The senior shot a season-best 12-under 268 at the Pac-12 Championship, where four rounds are played. Yanagi's best 54-hole score of the 2022-23 season came at the El Macero Classic, where he carded 6-under 210 to finish in a tie for seventh. The senior posted a season-best 66 in three different rounds this season. The first time came in the third round of the Mark Simpson Colorado Invitational (Oct. 3-4) to help Yanagi finish in a tie for fifth, then shot 66 again in the second and fourth rounds of the Pac-12 Championship. The senior heads to the NCAA Morgan Hill Regional with a GolfStat ranking of 217.
Yanagi will be heading to The Institute in Morgan Hill, California to play in the NCAA Morgan Hill Regional, which is co-hosted by San Jose State University and the San Jose Sports Authority. Play will take place May 15-17. Check back with WSUCougars.com for more information on the NCAA Men's Golf Regional.
For more information on the Washington State men's golf team, follow @WSUCougarMGolf on Instagram and Twitter.
