PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. - Senior Sean Yu has won a spot in the PGA TOUR Genesis Invitational after taking first at Monday's Collegiate Showcase event at the Riviera Country Club.
Yu won the event with a 1-under par 70, finishing first in the field that included 13 of the top collegiate golfers in the country. After starting on the back nine, Yu birdied the 17th hole to go one stroke under par and and held on for the win. Yu saved par with an up-and-down on No. 9, his final hole of the day, to seal the victory.
"No practice round at all, Sean came out and played brilliantly," said head coach John Kennaday. "He just hit clutch shot after clutch shot all day long. These are some really, really good players Sean beat today. He showed up and played tough today. It was very impressive."
Yu and Kennaday left Hawaii on Sunday where the Spartans had competed in the Amer Ari Invitational. On Monday morning, Yu was up early and ready to go at the Riviera, sight unseen. Kennaday, who has played the Riviera numerous times and was part of the NCAA committee in 2012 when the national championship was held there, was on the bag for Yu on Monday.
"To be honest, I didn't think that I'd ever get to where I am today," Yu said. "It's definitely a dream come true to play in a TOUR event and to play at the Riviera Country Club. To play in the Genesis Invitational is definitely something that I never even dreamed of."
This is Yu's second title of the season, after also taking first at the Stockton Invitational in the fall. Also in the fall, Yu shot a program-record 61 in the opening round of the Alister MacKenzie Invitational.
"Some pretty amazing things are happening right now around our program," Kennaday added. "I'd like to thank Case Swenson for helping us make today possible."
The Spartans have some history at the Genesis Invitational. The event was previously called the Los Angeles Open, which former San Jose State great Ken Venturi won in 1959. This year's Genesis Invitational field will include all six of the top ranked golfers in the world - Brooks Koepka, Rory McIlroy, John Rahm, Justin Thomas, Dustin Johnson and Tiger Woods.
"I'm trying to go into every round learning as much as I can," Yu said. "That's mainly what I'm focused on right now. Hopefully I can learn from the best players in the world."
GENESIS INVITATIONAL SCHEDULE
| Date | Round | TV Information |
| Thursday, Feb. 13 | Round 1 | TV: Golf Channel 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. |
| Friday, Feb. 14 | Round 2 | TV: Golf Channel 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. |
| Saturday, Feb. 15 | Round 3 | TV: Golf Channel 10-11:45 a.m.; CBS 12-3 p.m. |
| Sunday, Feb. 16 | Round 4 | TV: Golf Channel 10-11:45 a.m.; CBS 12-3:30 p.m. |
ABOUT THE GENESIS INVITATIONAL
The 94th edition of the tournament and its first year with invitational status, will be held Feb. 10-16 at The Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, Calif.
The $9.3 million Genesis Invitational field is highlighted by the top six players in the Official World Golf Ranking, and nine of the world's top 10 golfers: tournament host, 2019 Masters champion, 82-time PGA TOUR winner and 15-time major champion Tiger Woods; World No. 1, 2019 PGA Championship winner and four-time major champion Brooks Koepka; World No. 2 and reigning PGA TOUR Player of the Year Rory McIlroy; World No. 3 Jon Rahm; World No. 4, 12-time PGA TOUR winner and current PGA TOUR FedExCup points leader Justin Thomas; World No. 5, 20-time PGA TOUR winner and 2017 tournament champion at Riviera Dustin Johnson; World No. 8 Patrick Cantlay; World No. 9 Xander Schauffele; World No. 10 and 2016 Olympic Gold Medalist Justin Rose; defending champion and five-time PGA TOUR winner J.B. Holmes; three-time event winner and 2012 and 2014 Masters champion Bubba Watson; and 44-time PGA TOUR winner, 2012 World Golf Hall of Fame inductee, five-time major champ and 2008 and 2009 tournament championPhil Mickelson.
The Genesis Invitational field includes six PGA TOUR FedExCup champions – McIlroy (2016, 2019), Rose (2018), Thomas (2017), Jordan Spieth (2015), Jim Furyk (2010), and Woods (2007, 2009) – and 23 of the top 30 in the 2019-20 FedExCup standings.
Overall, The Genesis Invitational field includes 19 of the top 25 golfers in the world, 19 major champions who have combined to win 46 majors, and 91 golfers who have amassed 468 PGA TOUR titles. Operated by TGR Live, The Genesis Invitational raises funds and awareness for the TGR Foundation.