MGOLF | Spring Action is Here; Gaels Set to Compete in N.I.T. in Tucson to Kickoff Spring Season

Monday, January 26

Tucson, Ariz.

Saint Mary's College of California

1st and 2nd Rounds

Sr. Aidan Lee at the 2026 Sunday Swing Shootout

Photo by: @topp.flix

MGOLF | Spring Action is Here; Gaels Set to Compete in N.I.T. in Tucson to Kickoff Spring Season

1/23/2026 2:13:00 PM | Men's Golf

MORAGA, Calif. - Spring competition is officially here as the Saint Mary's men's golf team will head to Tucson this weekend to compete in the annual N.I.T. hosted by the University of Arizona starting on Monday, January 26th. The Gaels capped off a successful fall campaign which featured three top-five finishes including a second place finish at their own fall invitational in Monterey back in October. This week's N.I.T. is one of seven spring events for Saint Mary's as they begin their preparation for the WCC Tournament in May in an effort to qualify for the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2021.

This year's N.I.T. will return to the Omni Tucson National Resort on the Catalina Course. Live scoring and additional tournament information can be found below or at smcgaels.com.

TOURNAMENT INFORMATION

National Invitation Tournament (N.I.T. | Arizona) | Jan. 26-27
Omni Tucson National Resort (Catalina Course) | 7,262 yards | Par 73 | Live Scoring
Three Rounds | 36 holes Monday, 18 holes Tuesday | 5 counts 4
Participating Teams: Arizona (host), UTEP, BYU, Saint Mary's, Texas, Cal, New Mexico State, Howard, Fresno State, Wyoming, Grand Canyon, Santa Clara, Iowa State

STARTING LINEUP

1. Mitchell Hoey
2. Inigo Izuzquiza
3. Sam Baumuller
4. Aidan Lee
5. Avery Lazarski

LAST TIME OUT (7th place at Preserve Golf Club Collegiate)

After a top-five finish on day one of The Preserve Golf Club Collegiate, Saint Mary's ended their fall campaign with a bitter taste in their mouth as they fell to seventh place for their second lowest finish of the season. As a team, the Gaels were still well under par for the week, finishing 12-under over their three rounds. Senior Mitchell Hoey was the team's low finisher with a 7-under-par three-round performance to finish in 8th place. Avery Lazarski and Inigo Izuzquiza were the other two players to finish in red figures, placing 21st and 25th respectively.

Like numerous other collegiate golf programs though, the Gaels were busy during their winter break with amateur events. Several players participated in the Coachella Amateur and the Napa Open back in December. Izuzquiza took home the individual title at the Coachella Amateur with a whopping 16-under three-round performance for his first amateur event title. Teammates Sam Baumuller, Aidan Lee, Avery Lazarski and James Williams also joined Izuzquiza in the field as Baumuller, Lee and Lazarski finished inside the top-20. That same week, Mitchell Hoey was the lone SMC representative in the Napa Open where he placed t-21st at 1-under-par.

Most recently, Saint Mary's had all nine current team members compete in the Sunday Swing Shootout on January 19th. Littering the top of the leaderboard was Mitchell Hoey, Aidan Lee, Avery Lazarski and Inigo Izuzquiza. Hoey took home the individual title after outlasting Lee on the final day with a score of 10-under-par over his three rounds. Lee finished three strokes behind at 7-under with Lazarski and Izuzquiza rounding out the top-three in a tie at 2-under-par.

The Gaels are primed and ready to go for the spring season as they'll compete in the N.I.T. for the fifth consecutive season. Live scoring links and tournament recaps can be found at smcgaels.com.

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