With big changes come big opportunities for the 2016-17 Chico State men's golf program. Brand new Head Coach Nick Green will make his debut leading the men's team at the Saint Martin's Invitational Friday and Saturday and the Western Washington Invitational Monday and Tuesday.
 
Chico State is ranked No. 5 in the nation in the Bushell Golfweek Division II Preseason Coaches Poll following a runner-up finish at the NCAA Championships. However, the All-America trio of Alistair Docherty, Lee Gearhart and Justin Wiles graduated, and Freshman All-American Matt Hutchins transferred to UCLA.
 

That opened the door for a new group of players to lead the team.
 
Junior Colby Dean is the lone holdover from two seasons ago and the only Wildcat with more than 10 collegiate events under his belt. Kelley Sullivan played five times as a freshman and is the lone holdover from the team's NCAA Championships lineup. Senior Cole Chavez, sophomore Serge Kiriluk, and junior college transfer TJ Kathrineberg round out Green's season-opening starting five.
 
Returners Henning Hogmoen and Jordan Oliver, true freshman Chris Colla (Fon du Lac, Wisconsin), and Santiago Canyon Community College transfer Austin Trcka are also on Green's 2016-17 roster.
 
The Wildcats are not the only top-25 team in the fields. Tenth-ranked Cal State Monterey Bay and No. 23 Simon Fraser are also scheduled to play both events.
 
The Saint Martin's Invitational features 18 teams and will take place at Olympia Golf and Country Club in Olympia, Washington. The teams will play two rounds Friday beginning with an 8 a.m. shotgun start. Saturday's final round will tee off at 10 a.m.
 
The Western Washington Invitational at Bellingham Golf & Country Club features 17 teams and a group of individuals from the University of Washington's team. Monday's 36-hole action begins with an 8:30 a.m. shotgun start. The final round will begin Tuesday morning. Live scoring will be available on golfstat. The link, HERE, will also be provided on the homepage and men's golf schedule page.