Golf Teams Look to Move up the Leaderboard in 2025-26

Last year, Koen Solis was the Lutes’ top golfer, having an 18-hole average of 73.55 over the 20 rounds of collegiate play. That included two Top 10 finishes at conference events, logging an eighth place finish at the Fall Classic and bagging an ninth place showing at the NWC Championships while finishing 16th at the Spring Classic.

Marcus Otto averaged a 75.15 over 20 rounds last year, headlined by a sixth place finish at the NWC Fall Classic. The Swedish native also placed 22nd at the NWC Spring Classic.

Soren Bostrom carried a 75.55 average across 18 rounds, finishing eighth at the season ending NWC Championships and placing 13th at the Spring Classic. Tanner Frinell shot a 76.35 average across 20 rounds, placing 18th at the NWC Championships and 24th at the Spring Classic.

Also returning is Luke Butler (78.54 average across 13 rounds), Geo Pirrie (78.72 average across 18 rounds), Aiden Aoki (82.60 average across five rounds), and Grant Raubenolt (injured in 2024-2025).

“I’m hoping ether Gio, Luke, Aidan, or Grant— who really didn’t get a chance to play last year, step up this year.

Grant’s somewhat of an unknown because he didn’t play last year due to injuries but he had a 32 in one of our nine hole rounds the other day which is four under par, so he caught fire so I’m excited about that.”

The men get an early jump on the women this year, opening the season this weekend at the Whitworth Fall Invitational. The women will wait an extra week, opening the year on Sept. 22 at the Grisham Memorial Invitational hosted at The Home Course in DuPont, Washington. 

“Last year we got off to a great start and I’m expecting that again this year. We have some experience at the course in Spokane. Gio’s played there and knows the course really well, so he’s helping the guys out with strategy. 

It’s a short course and our guys are long hitters. If we hit it good, we should be making a lot of team’s worried.”

Alicea was one of the squad’s top golfers last year as a first-year, finishing 19th at all three NWC major events. That included shooting a season-best round of 78 in the first round of the conference championships. The Enumclaw, Washington native also placed fourth at the SPSCC Invitational with a score of 163 and was 15th at the Logger Shootout in October. 

Also returning is Lakewood, Washington native Kathleen Pullin. Last season the sophomore finished 32nd at the NWC Fall Classic, 38th at the NWC Spring Classic, and was 33rd at the NWC Championships, shooting a season-best round of 87 to cap off the year. 

Joining the squad is Jessica Doiguchi a first-year from Hawaii Baptist Academy and transfer Kate Sabarillo, a Mukilteo, Washington native who comes to PLU after by way of Bellevue College. 

A junior this fall, Sabarillo was named Second Team All-NWAC last year for the Bulldogs. That included a 17thplace showing last spring at the NWAC Championships, shooting a 188 and helping Bellevue to a third place showing.

Both teams will benefit from improved on-campus facilities this year with the University investing in upgrades to the golf team’s simulation room inside Olson Gymnasium.