Laramie, Wyo. (May 16, 2023) -- The Wyoming Cowboy Golf team will cap off one of its most successful seasons this week when the Pokes compete in the Inaugural GOLFWEEK National Golf Invitational (NGI) on May 18-21 at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club in Maricopa, Ariz.
     
Wyoming is one of only 13 teams, representing 11 different conferences that will play in the 2023 GOLFWEEK NGI.  The tournament field will include: Arkansas State (Sun Belt), Ball State (MAC), George Washington (Atlantic 10), Oral Roberts (Summit), Penn State (Big Ten), Santa Clara (West Coast), Stetson (ASUN), Texas State (Sun Belt), Troy (Sun Belt), Utah Valley (WAC), Valparaiso (Missouri Valley), Washington State (Pac-12) and Wyoming (Mountain West).
     
The Cowboys were ranked No. 77 in the nation in a May 14 GOLFWEEK/Sagarin Collegiate Golf Rankings that focused solely on the spring season.  Wyoming will enter the NGI as the top-ranked team based on these spring rankings.  Other teams participating in this week's Inaugural NGI that are ranked among the Top 100 teams in the spring rankings are: Troy (78), Arkansas State (81), Santa Clara (86), Washington State (88), Ball State (97) and Penn State (99).
     
This week's NGI event will begin with a practice round on Thursday, May 18.  The three rounds of the tournament will be played on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, May 19-21.  A team and an individual champion will be crowned at the conclusion of the 54-hole event.
     
Teams were selected based on their season-long performance, overall Golfweek/Golfstat rankings and head-to-head record against other NCAA Division I teams.
     
"We are thrilled and grateful to be part of this special postseason event," said Joe Jensen, University of Wyoming Head Coach.  "With Golfweek and the Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club coordinating this tournament, I know that it will be a first-class event and our players will have a great experience.
     
"This tournament is similar to what the NIT event is for basketball.  It is an honor for our program to be invited.  There were strict selection criteria followed in determining the field of teams.  The strength of this field is backed up by the fact that every team was required to have a .500 winning percentage for the season and Golfweek and Golfstat national rankings were also incorporated into the selections.  It will be a very competitive tournament. 
     
"Like selection to a bowl game or any other postseason event, it allows our players to continue practicing and playing.  It is also a reward for their hard work and performance this season and helps build a winning culture around our program.
     
"I want to thank our administration and the people who support our program in helping us get to a postseason event.  Without the resources they provide, we couldn't have had the successful season we did. 
     
"The winner of the NGI this year will get an exception into a prestigious college tournament next year, so there is an additional benefit to perform well."
     
The last time Wyoming had a team or individual compete in postseason competition was the 2017 season when former Cowboy Ryan Wallen qualified for the NCAA Regionals.
     
Wyoming is coming off a 2022-23 season filled with accomplishments.  Among the highlights for the Cowboys this season were:

•The Cowboys captured two team titles at the Mark Simpson Colorado Invitational and the Wyoming Desert Intercollegiate.
     
•UW finished among the Top 5 teams in six of 12 stroke-play events during the season.  Four of those Top 5 finishes came in Wyoming's seven spring tournaments.
     
•The Cowboys posted their best-ever finish at the Mountain West Championship, placing fifth in the 11-team field.
     
•Eight different Pokes combined for 32 Top 25 individual finishes during the 2022-23 season.
     
•Sophomore Patrick Azevedo led the way with nine Top 25 finishes this season in 12 stroke-play events.
     
•Four other Cowboys had four Top 25 finishes, including seniors Kirby Coe-Kirkham and Tyler Severin, junior Jimmy Dales and sophomore Jaren Calkins.
  
Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club
   •Maricopa, Ariz.
   •7,330 yards, Par 72
 
Tournament Format
   •18 holes on Friday, April 28
   •18 holes on Saturday, April 29
   •18 holes on Sunday, April 30
 
Tournament Stats
   • Live scoring will be available on GolfStat.com at:
     https://results.golfstat.com//public/leaderboards/gsnav.cfm?pg=participants&tid=27293