PROVO — The 13th-ranked BYU men's golf team will try to win its first outright Cougar Classic title in five years when it hosts the 43rd annual tournament at the Riverside Country Club today and Saturday.
The Cougars will host a field of 19 teams, including three-time defending champion Colorado State and every Division I golf program in Utah.
Despite finishing in second in 2003 and fifth in 2004, the Cougars have won their tournament 31 times. In 2002 when snow shortened the tournament to two rounds, they shared the title with Colorado State and Nevada, although the Rams were awarded the trophy based on a better final-round score. In 2001, San Diego State won the title.
"We're gearing up for a strong performance this weekend," said BYU coach Bruce Brockbank. "We would really like to win our home tournament again."
The Cougars are led by seniors Greg Machtaler and Ron Harvey Jr., and junior Oscar Alvarez.
Others in the field besides BYU and Colorado State are UC Davis, San Diego State, Denver, Fresno State, Nevada, Northern Colorado, Hawaii, Utah, Southern Utah, UTEP, Weber State, Boise State, Wyoming, Air Force, Ferris State, Utah State and Utah Valley State College.