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BYU Athletics: Two sports look to become the next Cougar powerhouses

By Shaun Gordon

GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 06: Ellie Russell of Scotland competes in the uneven bars during the Gymnastics Artistic Women's Team Final and Individual Qualification on day two of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games at Coomera Indoor Sports Centre on April 6, 2018 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 06: Ellie Russell of Scotland competes in the uneven bars during the Gymnastics Artistic Women's Team Final and Individual Qualification on day two of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games at Coomera Indoor Sports Centre on April 6, 2018 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images) /
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THE COLONY, TX – MAY 03: Two tees mark the ball position of Karrie Webb of Australia in the first fairway after play was suspended due to high winds during the first round of the 2018 Volunteers of America Texas Classic at Old American Golf Club on May 3, 2018 in The Colony, Texas. (Photograph by Darren Carroll/Getty Images)
THE COLONY, TX – MAY 03: Two tees mark the ball position of Karrie Webb of Australia in the first fairway after play was suspended due to high winds during the first round of the 2018 Volunteers of America Texas Classic at Old American Golf Club on May 3, 2018 in The Colony, Texas. (Photograph by Darren Carroll/Getty Images) /

Men’s Golf

BYU Men’s Golf was just as dominant as BYU Women’s Volleyball, just for a shorter amount of time.

From 1968 to 1987 the Cougars never finished worse than No. 16 in the nation, qualifying for Nationals every single season. Plus, they have one thing that neither Women’s Volleyball nor Gymnastics has – a national championship.

BYU’s first national championship came from Men’s Golf in 1980, right in the middle of their run of dominance.

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They’ve only made it back to Nationals seven times since 1987, though, and suffered their longest non-qualification drought in program history from 2006-17.

That tide began to shift last year. Led by senior Patrick Fishburn and two young talents in Peter Kuest and Rhett Rasmussen, BYU ended the drought and returned to Nationals, finishing 24th.

Fisburn has turned pro, and the team is now led by their two young stars. Both Kuest (No. 4) and Rasmussen (No. 39) are ranked in the Top 40 individually, and the team enters this week’s Arizona Intercollegiate as the No. 9 team in the nation.

During their fall slate the Cougars never placed worse than fourth in any tournament, and only placed worse than second once. Kuest earned WCC Golfer of the Month honors in both October and November.

The Cougars expect a return to Nationals this year, and both of their stars still have one more year after this. Plus, they’ll welcome one of the top golf recruits in the nation, Cole Ponich, next year.

This very easily could be the beginning of a resurgence for BYU Men’s Golf.

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