RIVERSIDE, Calif. – La Sierra University's men's golf team opened its spring season in historic fashion at the West Coast Invite, hosted by Lewis & Clark at The Victoria Club. Competing in the program's first-ever 36-hole tournament, the Golden Eagles posted a two-day total of 650 and showed impressive growth, trimming 10 strokes off their team score from day one to day two.
Leading the way was junior Kyle Harford, who made a strong return to competition with rounds of 76 and 75 to finish at 7-over par and secure a top-20 finish. In his first event back from injury, Harford delivered a steady and confident performance, highlighted by 12 pars and two birdies in a composed final round.
Junior Ky Stopp also turned in a solid showing, finishing with a two-day total of 161. His opening-round 78 set the tone, featuring 12 holes at par or better and demonstrating consistency throughout the tournament.
Freshman Tyler Cole continued to make strides, carding a 167 over two days. Cole improved by three strokes in his second round, closing with an 82 to earn the team's third-best score of the event.
Perhaps the most dramatic improvement came from junior Ryker Lazo, who rebounded in a big way on day two. After his opening round, Lazo fired an impressive 80 in the final round—an 18-stroke improvement—showcasing resilience and determination to finish with a 178 total.
Rounding out the Golden Eagles lineup, freshman Austin Covert posted a 181, junior Jordan Lopez recorded a 186, and junior Tomas Godoy added a 197 to contribute to the team effort.
La Sierra finished 14th overall, but the tournament marked a significant step forward for the young program. With measurable improvement from round to round and strong individual performances across the lineup, the Golden Eagles built valuable momentum heading into the heart of their spring schedule.
La Sierra returns to action February 23–24 at the Sierra Nevada Invitational at Coyote Springs Golf Club in Moapa, Nevada, where the team looks to continue its upward trajectory.
