FARMINGTON, Utah — The Big Sky Conference released its 2026-27 coaches' preseason poll and Eastern Washington men's golf was picked to tie for fifth in the league. Eastern is tied with Francis Marion, each earning 14 points in the poll.
EWU is entering its second season since the program returned to the Division I ranks. Head coach Russell Grove is also entering his second season after leading the program's restart.
In the first season for Eagle golf since 2002, the team placed sixth at the 2025-26 Big Sky Championships.
True freshman Cal Anderson placed 15th on the individual leaderboard, shooting +1 (217).
Senior Lucas Hughes was close behind Anderson, tying for 16th at +2 (218).
Anderson was named Big Sky Freshman of the Year for '25-'26, posting an average score of 73.04. He added Big Sky honorable mention and a Player of the Week honor last season. Hogan Park earned Big Sky second team honors, averaging 73.8. Park placed sixth at the Redhawk Invitational in spring of 2026.
Grove returns three players from last season, led by Anderson, along with Eli McNelly and Charlie Gaffney. McNelly played in four tournaments, shooting an average of 74. 67. Gaffney competed at the UC San Diego Invitational, shooting 230 for the tournament.
Eastern hosts its first competition of the 2026-27 season, playing at CDA National Reserve in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.
Idaho was picked to win the Big Sky, garnering five first-place votes. Utah Tech also joins the conference after the departure of Sacramento State.
2026-27 Big Sky Men's Golf Preseason Coaches' Poll
1: Idaho (5) – 35
2: Northern Colorado (1) – 26
3: Utah Tech (1) – 25
4: Weber State – 23
T5: Eastern Washington – 14
T5: Francis Marion – 14
7: Southern Utah – 10
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ABOUT EASTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
Eastern Washington University Athletics sponsors 14 intercollegiate sports, six for men and eight for women, both as learning opportunities for its most athletically talented students and as an enhancement to student and community life. Eastern is affiliated with Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and is a member of the Big Sky Conference, an association of 10 regional schools with comparable enrollments and academic goals.
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