Long Beach State Sweeps Major Awards as Ian Gilligan Takes Home Big West Golfer of the Year
5/9/2023 12:20:00 PM | Men's Golf
Jack Cantlay named Big West Freshman of the Year, and Rob Murray selected Big West Co-Coach of the Year
IRVINE, Calif. – The Big West Announced the 2023 Men's Golf All-Conference Team and Long Beach State swept the major awards as sophomore Ian Gilligan was named Golfer of the Year, while Jack Cantlay earned Big West Freshman of the Year honors, while first year head coach Rob Murray claimed Co-Coach of the Year accolades along with Cal State Fullerton's Jason Drotter. In addition, Gilligan along with senior Isaac Rodea were named to the First Team, while Cantlay was selected to the Second Team, and freshman Jaden Huggins earned Honorable Mention status.
Gilligan, who is ranked No. 13 via GolfStat, turned in an outstanding sophomore campaign in which he captured four individual tournament titles, and led the Beach to two team victories. The Reno, Nev., heads into the NCAA Regionals with eight Top 10 finishes, while averaging a 69.00 stroke average over 29 rounds. He fired a career-best 61 in the first round of the John A. Burns Intercollegiate to set a new course record. He would go on to finish the tournament with a career-low 199 for 17-under par. On the year, Gilligan has fired a 199 over three rounds twice to tied the program's low 54-hole score.
Cantlay has turned in an outstand freshman season as he is averaging a 72.69 stroke average over 26 rounds. He posted his highest finish, a tie for third place, at the Lake Las Vegas Intercollegiate where he shot 68-74-65 for a 9-under 207 as the Beach's top finisher. He had an impressive second-round showing at the Arizona Thunderbirds Intercollegiate as he fired a season-low 65 on his way to an 8-under par 208 for an eighth place showing.
Murray is in his first year with Long Beach State and hit the ground running as he was named the 12th head coach in LBSU Men's Golf program history in November of 2022. Since taking the reins of the Beach, Murray's squad has finished in the Top 10 in every tournament in which he has coaches. The Beach boast three Top 5 finishes and captured The Big West Championship for the fourth time in program history.
Rodea joined Gilligan on the All-Big West First Team after registering a solid senior season. The product out of San Diego, Calif., owns a 72.10 stroke average on the year and is coming off his second-best performance of the season as he fired a 69-71-72 for a 4-under 212 performance at The Big West Championship on his way to being named to the All-Tournament Team after finishing in a tie for fourth. Rodea's best performance of the year came at the Nick Watney Invitational where he finished fifth after shooting 68-69-66 for a 10-under 203.
Rounding out Long Beach State's All-Big West Conference honorees Huggins, a freshman from Murrieta, Calif. The rookie earned Big West Honorable Mention status after recording a 73.17 stroke average this season. He turned in his top performance of the year at the Nick Watney Invitational as he finished in 15th place with a 3-under 210 showing after shooting 73-67-70. His second round 67 is a season-low for Huggins.
Long Beach State will be back in action as the No. 10 seed at the NCAA Las Vegas Regional which begins on Monday, May 15 and will conclude on Wednesday, May 17 at the Bear's Best Country Club in Las Vegas. Fans can follow the action via GolfStat.com.
Gilligan, who is ranked No. 13 via GolfStat, turned in an outstanding sophomore campaign in which he captured four individual tournament titles, and led the Beach to two team victories. The Reno, Nev., heads into the NCAA Regionals with eight Top 10 finishes, while averaging a 69.00 stroke average over 29 rounds. He fired a career-best 61 in the first round of the John A. Burns Intercollegiate to set a new course record. He would go on to finish the tournament with a career-low 199 for 17-under par. On the year, Gilligan has fired a 199 over three rounds twice to tied the program's low 54-hole score.
Cantlay has turned in an outstand freshman season as he is averaging a 72.69 stroke average over 26 rounds. He posted his highest finish, a tie for third place, at the Lake Las Vegas Intercollegiate where he shot 68-74-65 for a 9-under 207 as the Beach's top finisher. He had an impressive second-round showing at the Arizona Thunderbirds Intercollegiate as he fired a season-low 65 on his way to an 8-under par 208 for an eighth place showing.
Murray is in his first year with Long Beach State and hit the ground running as he was named the 12th head coach in LBSU Men's Golf program history in November of 2022. Since taking the reins of the Beach, Murray's squad has finished in the Top 10 in every tournament in which he has coaches. The Beach boast three Top 5 finishes and captured The Big West Championship for the fourth time in program history.
Rodea joined Gilligan on the All-Big West First Team after registering a solid senior season. The product out of San Diego, Calif., owns a 72.10 stroke average on the year and is coming off his second-best performance of the season as he fired a 69-71-72 for a 4-under 212 performance at The Big West Championship on his way to being named to the All-Tournament Team after finishing in a tie for fourth. Rodea's best performance of the year came at the Nick Watney Invitational where he finished fifth after shooting 68-69-66 for a 10-under 203.
Rounding out Long Beach State's All-Big West Conference honorees Huggins, a freshman from Murrieta, Calif. The rookie earned Big West Honorable Mention status after recording a 73.17 stroke average this season. He turned in his top performance of the year at the Nick Watney Invitational as he finished in 15th place with a 3-under 210 showing after shooting 73-67-70. His second round 67 is a season-low for Huggins.
Long Beach State will be back in action as the No. 10 seed at the NCAA Las Vegas Regional which begins on Monday, May 15 and will conclude on Wednesday, May 17 at the Bear's Best Country Club in Las Vegas. Fans can follow the action via GolfStat.com.
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