High expectations were awaiting the Chico State men's golf team and its top player, junior Kyle Souza, as they teed off on the 2010-11 season with two tournaments in Washington spanning five days. Consider those expectations met thus far. Souza finished second at the Saint Martin's Invitational Saturday, leading Chico State to a second-place team finish. He followed that up with a seventh-place finish at the Western Washington University Invitational, which concluded Tuesday, helping the fourth-ranked Wildcats nip a trio of other Top-25 teams. For his efforts Souza has been named Wildcat of the Week.
The 2010 PING Second Team All-American and two-time First Team All-West Region selection is 7-under par through his first two tournaments thanks to four sub-par rounds, one even-par round, and one 1-over par round. Souza carded a 6-under par 71-67-69–207 to finish just one stroke shy of medalist honors at Saint Martin's. He put together a 1-under par tournament of 71-71-73–215 at Western Washington.
Local fans will have a chance to witness one of the nation's top players first hand when the Wildcats host the InterWest Wildcat Classic at Butte Creek Country Club on Oct. 11-12. Chico State wraps up the fall portion of its campaign the following weekend at the Division II Championship Preview in Florence, Ala., at Robert Trent Jones at the Shoals.
Souza finished sixth at last year's NCAA Championships, leading the Wildcats to a third-place finish. He followed that up by qualifying for the USGA Amateur Public Links Championships and advancing all the way into the round of 16 in match play.
Souza also has 2009 PING All-West Region honors, consecutive All-California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) honors, 2010 Chico State Male Athlete of the Year honors, and the 2009 CCAA Freshman of the Year award to his credit
