Freshman Dylan Boenning Leads Washington State in Windy Opener at John Burns Intercollegiate
LIHU‘E, Hawai‘i - The 2026 season teed off in challenging fashion for Washington State, as swirling coastal winds tested every club and every decision in Thursday’s opening round of the John Burns Intercollegiate. But amid the gusts and grind, freshman Dylan Boenning showed poise well beyond his years, carding an even-par 70 to pace the Cougars on the Ocean Course at Hokuala.
Boenning’s round was a tale of two halves - or in this case, 15 holes of steady resilience following a rocky start. Beginning on the par-4 13th, he opened with a par before running into trouble with a double bogey and bogey on the next two holes, quickly finding himself 3-over through three.
But instead of unraveling, Boenning locked in. Over his final 15 holes, he delivered three birdies and a dozen pars, navigating the wind with the kind of control and maturity that coaches dream of in a freshman debut.
His even-par round left him tied for 21st in a field where red numbers were hard to come by.
As a team, Washington State posted a 9-over 289, placing them 14th in a 19-team field after Day 1. On a day when the winds made even par feel like a small victory, only three teams managed to break par. Loyola Marymount leads the pack at 4-under, with Texas A&M (-3) and Long Beach State (-2) close behind.
Senior Sam Renner brought a bit of everything to his round. His scorecard featured an eagle on the par-5 second hole, two birdies, two bogeys, and a double bogey - a mix of big moments and missed opportunities.
He finished at 1-over 71, tied for 32nd. Renner’s ability to bounce back from mistakes and capitalize on scoring chances was on full display, and his veteran presence will be key as the Cougars look to climb the leaderboard.
Freshman Christian Flick also had to dig deep after a tough start. Three bogeys in his first five holes could’ve derailed his round, but he steadied himself with a birdie and a bogey the rest of the way, finishing at 3-over 73, tied for 58th.
Redshirt junior Ben Borgida got off to a promising start with a birdie on the par-4 13th - his first hole of the day - but couldn’t find another red number the rest of the way. He closed with a 5-over 75, tied for 77th.
Sophomore Dylan Burcham had a round of two halves. He made the turn at even par, but the back nine proved difficult, as he went 6-over coming in to post a 76, tied for 89th.
Playing as an individual, sophomore Garrett Harrison turned in a 5-over 75, highlighted by three birdies. His round, while uneven, showed flashes of scoring potential that could prove valuable down the line.
The Cougars will look to regroup and gain ground in Friday’s second round, which tees off at 11 a.m. PT. With the wind likely to remain a factor, composure and course management will be at a premium - and if Boenning’s opening round is any indication, Washington State has a young leader ready to rise to the occasion.