Fresh off an NCAA Tournament appearance last season, University of the Pacific’s men’s golf team wants to prove last season’s breakthrough was just the opening round of things to come.

With eight returning student-athletes, the Tigers opened the season with a third-place finish at the season-opening Palouse Collegiate last week, building on the team chemistry and experience that carried them to the NCAA tournament last year.

“We have an amazing schedule and a great opportunity to compete with some fantastic teams,” said Head Coach John Cook. “We’re looking forward to building on last year’s success and pushing ourselves to the next level.”

Last season, Pacific earned its first NCAA Tournament berth since 2013, its 16th appearance in program history. Along the way, the Tigers claimed two team championships, produced three individual champions, and recorded six top-three finishes, including a fourth-place showing at the West Coast Conference Championships.

Now entering his 11th season at the helm, Cook believes his experienced squad is ready to keep Pacific among the nation’s most competitive programs.

“These guys are working hard to improve every day,” Cook said. “We have eight players who returned from last year who are determined to continue building one of the top programs in the country. We’re excited for this season.”

Among the returners is Travis Robbie ’26, a sports science major who captured the individual title at last year’s Visit Stockton Pacific Invitational at Stockton Golf & Country Club. Robbie led wire-to-wire and closed at 13-under par, becoming Pacific’s first individual champion since 2018.

For Robbie, the focus this season is on raising his own game while deepening the bond with his teammates.

“It’s great that we have so many returners because we’ve already built that chemistry and understand each other,” Robbie said. “We have each other’s backs, and everyone is putting in the work to be their best. It’s exciting to be competing again and getting better every day.”

Senior Timothy Jung ’26, a business administration major with a concentration in sport management and analytics, echoed Robbie’s perspective as he prepares for his final season.

“I’m excited to compete with this group of guys,” Jung said. “We have a lot of our key returners back, and we’re ready to produce even better results than last season. I want to raise my game, help my team in every way I can, and inspire the best in my teammates.”

The Tigers will host the Visit Stockton Pacific Invitational from Thursday, Oct. 9 to Saturday, Oct. 11 at The Reserve at Spanos Park. See the full men’s golf schedule.