LEWISTON, Ida. – After some strong performances at the Tournament of Knights in Portland two weeks ago, the Thunderbirds will next tee off in Idaho from Monday, April 27 through Wednesday, April 29, as they aim to add another pair of Cascade Collegiate Conference banners to the program's trophy case.
The blue and gold have won both the men's and women's CCC titles in all five seasons that they've competed in the conference. While this year's squads are quite different from last season's, the T-Birds have done quite well for themselves to this point with victories at each of the first three CCC events of the 2025-26 campaign.
"We feel like the teams are in a really good rhythm for the upcoming CCC Championships," said UBC Golf program advisor
Cory Renfrew. "Exam period will have just finished and along with that relief everyone is excited and ready to get back on the course and compete."
Keira Hou has starred for the women's team in conference play, winning the individual title at both the Wine Valley Invitational in Walla Walla as well as in the Tournament of Knights. She also tied for first in Caldwell's College of Idaho Invitational, losing on a second playoff hole to fall just short of a perfect three-for-three ahead of the conference championship.
Other T-Birds to have won individual titles at events this season include
Katherine Hao (at the Canada West Championships and the Cascade Classic) and
Sienna Harder (at the NCAA Division I Harbottle Invitational). Interestingly, the Thunderbird who's currently highest in the NAIA individual rankings is none of the three aforementioned athletes, but rather
Grace Yao, who sits at No. 5, three spots ahead of Hou.
The T-Bird women are aiming to win their second major championship of the campaign, following their Canada West title claimed in Chilliwack back in October.
On the men's side, the Thunderbirds are on the hunt for their first major title in 2025-26. It's been a true collective effort for the 'Birds for much of this season, as despite winning the team titles at each of the previous three CCC events, they only won the individual title at one of them –
Leighton Wright at the College of Idaho Invitational, and his fantastic performance didn't even count towards the team score win at that event as he was entered as an individual.
Wright also claimed victory at the RMC Intercollegiate in Nevada last month, defeating Southern Oregon's Oliver Ausland in a playoff.
Jake Houston is the other Thunderbird to have won an individual title this season, coming at the Cascade Classic.
UBC is coming off a two-stroke victory over Lewis-Clark State at the Tournament of Knights, and will be facing a determined Warriors team on their home turf at the Lewiston Golf & Country Club in Idaho.
With a three-day tournament and conference glory on the line, the plethora of young golfers on both Thunderbird squads will need to keep calm under pressure in order to deliver the type of performances they've shown throughout other events this season.
"There has definitely been a bit of a learning curve for our freshman to playing university-level golf, but they have adjusted well and have really come together nicely," added Renfrew. "The key to staying cool and collected throughout championships is to lean on our training and all the great preparation we've done up to now. Our leadership team is experienced and poised for these events."
The CCC Championships begin at 8:30 a.m. (PT) on Monday. You can follow along with the
men's and
women's leaderboards by clicking the links provided.
