BYU, Jones Win Inaugural Bridgestone Collegiate Invitational
NAPA, Calif. – In a final round that saw as many as four individual co-leaders, BYU’s Cooper Jones earned an exemption into a 2024 Korn Ferry Tour event by winning the inaugural Bridgestone Collegiate Invitational with a seven-under 209 on Tuesday at Silverado Resort. Jones’ Cougars, who led by 11 shots after Monday’s second round, claimed the team victory with a 12-under 852.
Jones recorded five birdies for a one-over 73 and his first collegiate victory. Nihon’s Yuma Iwai kept the pressure on Jones early by carding six birdies in his front nine, but a birdie on the par 4 17th gave Jones the outright and tournament-clinching lead.
“When I started three-under through five, golf felt easy,” the freshman from Highland, Utah, said. “Because of the lead I had, I knew that I needed to stick with it. Finishing with two birdies in the last four holes felt good to sneak out the win by one shot.”
UCONN’s Bradley Sawka, playing as an individual, and Sam Houston State’s Ting-Wei Hsieh tied for second with Iwai. BYU’s lineup of Peter Kim (T7, two-under 214), Max Brenchley (10th, one-under 215), Zac Jones (T14, two-over 218), and Keanu Akina (T17, four-over 220) all earned top-20 finishes and the Cougars’ first tournament win this season.
“It was fun to come out with the lead and see what the guys were going to do,” BYU Head Coach Bruce Brockbank said. “The freshmen played really well and kind of carried the team this week. To be here at Silverado where there’s so much tradition and the PGA TOUR is a great opportunity for our kids to play such a championship course.”
Todd Miller, BYU’s Director of Golf, is the son of two-time major champion, World Golf Hall of Famer, and Silverado Resort re-designer Johnny Miller.
“For me, growing up here, It was really special to be back,” Todd Miller said. “I played this course almost every day from the time I was eight years old to 18, so to see the guys play it and be able to coach them was a lot of fun.”
The 2024 Korn Ferry Tour event exemption for Jones will be announced at a later date. Sam Houston State, Nihon, Michigan State, and North Alabama also recorded top-five team finishes.
About Bridgestone Collegiate Development Program
The Bridgestone Collegiate Development Program is dedicated to enhancing competitive and mentorship opportunities for golfers from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and underrepresented communities. Additionally, it offers tangible career development opportunities for both players and coaches. Among its initiatives are the Bridgestone APGA Collegiate Ranking, the HBCU Coaches Summit presented by Bridgestone, the Pathway to Progression HBCU Performance Day presented by Bridgestone and two new collegiate golf tournaments – the Bridgestone HBCU Invitational and the Bridgestone Collegiate Invitational.
About Pathway to Progression
First unveiled in March of 2023, the PGA TOUR’s Pathway to Progression aims to support the identification and development of junior and collegiate golfers from historically underrepresented communities. Now in its third year, the Collegiate Ranking, in partnership with the APGA Tour, provides transitional support for the top five Black senior collegiate golfers as they begin their professional golf careers.
About Bridgestone Americas, Inc.
Bridgestone Americas, Inc. is the U.S.-based subsidiary of Bridgestone Corporation, a global leader in tires and rubber, building on its expertise to provide solutions for safe and sustainable mobility. Headquartered in Nashville, Tenn., Bridgestone Americas employs more than 45,000 people across its worldwide operations. Bridgestone offers a diverse product portfolio of premium tires and advanced solutions backed by innovative technologies, improving the way people around the world move, live, work and play.