SAN JOSE, Calif. - The San José State men’s golf team turns the page to a new chapter as it tees off the 2026-27 season at the Vuori Invitational on Monday, Sept. 14, hosted at the prestigious Rancho Santa Fe Golf Club in Rancho Santa Fe, California.
Entering the fall campaign with great excitement, head coach John Kennaday—recently named Chairman of the NCAA Division I Men's Golf Committee—welcomes Itai Cohen, Christian Maggard, and Keshav "KC" Mungali back, plus adds seven dynamic newcomers to the lineup. The fresh talent mixes with a proven core looking to build on the program's impressive standard set during the 2025-26 season.
BUILDING ON 2025-26 SUCCESS:
San José State comes into the new season fueled by a series of high-level performances from a year ago. Highlights from the 2025-26 campaign included:
- NCAA Postseason Representation: Three Spartans—Avinash Iyer, Ivan Barahona, and Mungali—earned spots to compete in the 2026 NCAA Men’s Golf Corvallis Regional.
- Record-Setting Play: Iyer turned in one of the most memorable rounds in program history, firing a career-low 63 (-9) in the final round of the Gene Miranda Falcon Invitational to tie for the second-best single-round score in SJSU history.
- Team Championship: The big win of last season came in late September at the Jim DeLapa Collegiate in Benton Harbor, Michigan. The Spartans captured the team title with a blistering total score of 825 (-15), capped off by a remarkable final-round 269.
- Fall Consistency: SJSU established momentum early, securing four top-six finishes across its four fall tournaments.
- Academic Excellence: The program’s work extended beyond the golf course as Iyer, Mungali, and Jed Dy were all named 2026 GCAA Cobalt Golf All-America Scholars.
SEVEN NEW SPARTANS:
Joey Allan, Fr., Scottsdale, Ariz./Pinnacle HS
- Earned four letters in golf, including being a team captain
- Finished first as a team and individually in the 2026 Aguila State Preview with a 68 (-4)
- Finished first as a team and third individually at the 2026 GCU Fall Preview with a 141 (-3)
Brady Foster, Jr-R., Seattle, Wash./O'Dea HS/Gonzaga/Reedley College
- Big 8 Conference Team Champions at Reedley College (2025, 26)
- Northern California Regional Team Champions at Reedley College (2025, 26)
- Big 8 First-Team All-Conference at Reedley College (2025, 26)
Grant Leary, Fr., West Hills, Calif./Crespi Carmelite HS
- Boys CIF SS Northern Regional Individual Championship (2026)
- L.A. Daily News Male Golfer of the Year (2026)
- Boys CIF SS Individual Championship (2025)
Dominic Lucchesi, Jr., Grayslake, Ill./Grayslake Central HS/Depaul University
- Big East Golfer of the Week (4/23/26, 9/26/24)
- 2025 DePaul Athletics Co-Male Freshman of the Year
- Set program record for best finish under par in a 54-hole event (-9, Hawkeye Invitational, 04/21/26)
Jackson Lutz, Fr., Santa Cruz, Calif./Monte Vista Christian School
- Went to Monte Vista Christian School and Oaks Christian School
- Played two seasons of golf at Monte Vista Christian School
- Once shot a 64
Ryan Pupach, Fr., San Jose, Calif./Bellarmine College Prep
- Won the WCAL League Tournament
- Three-time Pahrump Valley Invitational winner
- Was on the Boys America's Cup Team (2023)
Noah Scavo, Fr., Northridge, Calif./Chaminade College Prep
- Set the school's low one-round record in 2026 at -8
- Was captain for one season and was named MVP in 2025 and 2026
- Won the AJGA Spin Jr. (2024)
#AllSpartans