Winner of the 1997 NCAA Championships, the Pepperdine men’s golf team has blossomed into a nationally recognized program. The Waves have made seven appearances at the NCAA Championships since 1993, and have established themselves as a perennial national contender.

No West Coast Conference program has had more success than Pepperdine, as the Waves have captured 16 WCC championships between 1987 and 2007. Pepperdine has finished either first or second at the WCC Championship 18 times in the last 22 years, and Pepperdine has advanced to the NCAA West Regional Championships in 16 of the last 17 seasons.

Golf had its roots at Pepperdine’s old Los Angeles campus. Although historical records are sketchy, Pepperdine fielded its first-ever golf team in the late 1940s or early 1950s. Wayne Wright, the University’s former athletics director, served as the team’s mentor from 1965-68.

When Pepperdine made its move to the Malibu campus in the early 1970s, the program was dropped. It was reinstituted a decade later in 1981-82, and Dr. Bob Gilliam, a former professor at the University, served as the Waves’ head coach for three seasons before Bob Yokoi assumed the duties in 1984-85.

At this time, the University began to make a serious financial commitment toward the program. In addition to providing funds for scholarships, the program was aided by the fact that Yokoi was a staff member at the nearby North Ranch Country Club in Westlake Village. Thus, team members could receive professional instruction and also benefit from consistent practice opportunities at a top-flight facility.

In 1987, Pepperdine achieved its first notable success, as the Waves upset several local collegiate powers and claimed the championship of the Southern California Invitational at Torrey Pines Country Club in San Diego. The Waves’ Jim Johnson won the individual title. That particular tournament victory signaled the arrival of the Pepperdine program.

Pepperdine won its first-ever West Coast Conference golf title that same year, and Johnson earned a spot competing as an individual at the NCAA Championships — a first-time accomplishment for a Waves’ player.

Kurt Schuette, a player at Pepperdine for two seasons in the mid-1980s, assumed the head coaching duties in the fall of 1988, marking the first time that the University had employed a full-time golf coach. Under Schuette’s guidance, the program continued to make positive advances. Highlights included the creation of an annual fundraising tournament, building a highly competitive tournament schedule and improved recruiting efforts. Pepperdine won the WCC championship in 1989 (Schuette’s first season as the Waves’ head coach).

At the 1993 NCAA West Regional in Provo, Utah, the Waves placed seventh overall, thus securing a first-ever team berth to the NCAA Championships.

Under the direction of first-year head coach Todd Andrews, Pepperdine finished fourth at the 1996 NCAA West Regional at the Stanford Golf Course, thus securing an NCAA Championships berth for just the second time in school history.

Pepperdine traveled to Chattanooga, Tenn., to compete against the nation’s top teams at The Honors Course, and the Waves finished 24th in the 30-team field. Pepperdine completed the 1995-96 campaign ranked #22 nationally by Golfweek and #23 in the Rolex Collegiate listing.

John Geiberger assumed the head coaching duties in the fall of 1996, inheriting a talent-laden team with extensive experience. Pepperdine used a late-season surge to advance to the 1997 NCAA West Regional, and the Waves finished ninth at the 18-team event at the Carlton Oaks Country Club in Santee, Calif. Making its second consecutive NCAA Championship appearance, Pepperdine outperformed the nation’s top teams at the Conway Farms Golf Club in Lake Forest, Ill., near Chicago, and claimed its first-ever NCAA men’s golf championship.

Seniors Jason Gore and Michael Walton finished third and fifth, respectively, in the final individual standings at the NCAA Championships, and were both All-American honorable mention selections by the Golf Coaches Association of America. Pepperdine completed the year ranked #8 nationally by Golfweek and #15 in the Rolex Collegiate listing.

In 2000, Pepperdine finished ninth at the NCAA West Regional and advanced to the NCAA Championships at The Grand National Golf Course in Opelika, Ala. Sophomore Michael Beard earned individual medalist honors at the NCAA Regional Championships and earned All-American honors.

The Waves earned their second top 10 NCAA finish in program history in 2002, as they placed eighth at the Scarlet Course in Columbus, Ohio. Beard tied for eighth and earned All-American honors again.

The Waves made their sixth NCAA Championships appearance in 2004 and finished 10th at The Cascades Golf Course in Hot Springs, Va. Junior All-American Michael Putnam led Pepperdine as he finished fourth.

The Waves’ seventh NCAA appearance came when they traveled to Sunriver, Ore., for the 2006 NCAA Championships.

Recent top performers in the program include:

• Jason Allred (All-American, four-time All-WCC pick)
• Todd Andrews (1992, 1993 and 1994 NCAA Championships participant)
• Michael Beard (All-American, four-time All-WCC pick)
• Alex Coe (All-American honorable mention, two-time All-WCC pick)
• Kelly Craig (1999 WCC champions)
• Randy Creighton (three-time All-WCC Pick, 2001 WCC champion)
• John Geiberger (two-time All-WCC pick)
• Jason Gore (1996 and 1997 NCAA Championships participant, 1997 All-American honorable mention and 1997 Walker Cup Team)
• Jeff Gove (1993 NCAA Championships participant)
• Lars Herne (1993 NCAA Championships participant and 1993 CoSIDA Academic All-American)
• Phil Hurlbut
• Jim Johnson (1987 WCC champion and 1987 NCAA Championships participant)
• Dean Kobane (1989 WCC champion)
• Kevin Marsh (1994 All-American second team, 1995 WCC champion and 1996 NCAA Championships participant)
• Carson Mooney (three-time All-WCC pick)
• Brad Payne (three-time All-WCC pick)
• Michael Putnam (2005 Byron Nelson Award winner, 2005 NCAA runner-up, three-time All-WCC, three-time All-American, 2003 WCC champion)
• Steve Van Alstyne (1992 WCC champion)
• Andy Walker (1997 WCC champion)
• Michael Walton (1996 and 1997 NCAA Championships participant, 1996 WCC champion and 1997 All-American honorable mention)
• Charles Whiteley (1999 Academic All-American).