Men’s Golf Season Preview – Veteran Core and Talented Newcomers Position Warriors for 2026-27 Campaign

SALEM, Ore. – After a season of valuable growth and experience in one of the NAIA's most diverse golf conferences, the Corban University Men's Golf program enters the 2026-27 campaign eager to take the next step under head coach Charlie Marshall. Featuring a veteran nucleus, an accomplished freshman class, and a roster determined to outperform its preseason projection, the Warriors believe they have the pieces necessary to contend for a spot in the upper half of the Cascade Collegiate Conference (CCC) standings this season.

"We have a good mixture of veteran leadership and talented young players who are capable of contributing right away," said Marshall. "Our returning golfers gained valuable experience competing in conference tournaments and against nationally recognized programs last season, while our incoming class adds both depth and competition throughout the lineup. We're excited about the potential of this group and look forward to seeing how they develop throughout the year."

Season Schedule/Key Matchups

The fall schedule begins with the annual Corban/Bushnell Dual at both Pine Ridge Golf Club and Tokatee Golf Club on August 28th and 29th before the Warriors travel to the Oregon Tech Fall Invitational in early September. Corban will then compete at the Tournament of Knights, host the CU Warrior Classic, travel to a nationally ranked Lewis-Clark State College program for their Warrior Fall Invitational, and close the autumn slate at the Tall Timber Invitational, OUAZ Fall Invitational, and Corban Alumni Ryder Cup.

As always, conference tournaments throughout the season will provide valuable opportunities for the Warriors to improve their standing heading into championship play. Corban demonstrated on multiple occasions last year that it could compete with many of the conference's established programs and will seek greater consistency over all three rounds of competition this season.

The spring schedule still has numerous dates/tournaments to be added, but Warrior Nation will have the opportunity to see their program in action on their home course at Creekside Golf Club on April 5th and 6th for their hosted conference tourney, the Corban Spring Invite. The CCC Championships are scheduled for April 19th and 21st at Wine Valley Golf Club and are set to be hosted by Walla Walla University.

Conference Outlook

The CCC remains one of the most distinct men's golf conferences in the NAIA, highlighted by perennial powers such as the University of British Columbia, Lewis-Clark State College, and Oregon Tech. Last season, Corban posted a 303.1 team scoring average and finished seventh among conference programs, though the Warriors routinely showed flashes of top five potential throughout the year.

Entering the 2026-27 campaign, league coaches projected Corban to finish seventh in the conference preseason poll. However, the internal expectations within the program remain much higher as the Warriors blend experienced returners with yet another one of Marshall's decorated recruiting classes.

Key Losses/Returners

While Corban returns a number of experienced contributors, the Warriors must also replace the leadership and experience of three senior golfers who concluded their collegiate careers this past spring.

The most notable departures are Brayden Sparkman, Shane Jacobus, and Andy Austen, all of whom were key members of the men's program and frequently factored into the Warriors' scoring lineup throughout their careers. Jacobus occupied the No. 2 bag for Corban during the 2026 CCC Championships and enjoyed one of the strongest stretches of golf of his career during the spring season, while Sparkman and Austen provided valuable veteran depth and leadership both on the course and within the program by repeatedly appearing as the Warriors' top bag on multiple occasions.

Collectively, the trio accounted for a significant portion of Corban's lineup experience and helped mentor a younger core that now assumes a greater leadership role entering the 2026-27 campaign. Their departure creates opportunities for returning golfers such as Isaac Laro, David Harvey, and Owen Heath, while opening the door for members of Corban's talented freshman class to compete for immediate tournament spots.

Fortunately for head coach Charlie Marshall, the Warriors bring back several golfers who gained extensive experience in conference competition last season. Laro emerged as one of Corban's most dependable performers during the spring and enters the season positioned near the top of the lineup after a strong freshman campaign. Harvey and Heath also return after logging significant tournament rounds and should be expected to play major roles in the team's success this season as veteran golfers for the program.

Newcomers to Watch

Corban welcomes four talented freshmen who are expected to immediately strengthen the depth of the men's program.

Leading the incoming class is Colby Lerten of Hermiston High School, a four-year varsity golfer who qualified twice for the state championship, earned multiple all-conference honors, captured two tournament victories during his prep career, and boasted a competitive low round of 71.

Rane Divers arrives from Life Christian Academy after placing eighth at the WIAA 1A State Championship and helping his team secure a third-place state finish. A four-year varsity golfer with PGA Junior League experience, Divers brings a strong competitive background to Salem.

Owen Deese joins the Warriors from South Kitsap High School, where he continued developing his game throughout his prep career and posted an 84 scoring average during his senior season.

Rounding out the class is Casyn Simmons from Delta Academy in Nevada. Simmons earned a starting lineup spot during the final years of his high school career and arrives with experience competing in one of the nation's most golf-rich regions.

Warrior Whims (Final Thoughts)

The 2026-27 season presents an opportunity for the Warriors to transform last year's growth into tangible results. Corban returns a solid foundation of experienced collegiate golfers while adding four freshmen capable of contributing immediately to the lineup.

Success will likely hinge on consistency throughout tournament play and the development of the program's younger players as the season progresses. If the veteran core continues its upward trajectory and the newcomers adapt quickly to collegiate competition, the Warriors possess the talent necessary to exceed preseason expectations and challenge for a place among the conference's top half.

For a program seeking to make significant strides within the CCC standings, the ingredients are in place for an exciting season on the links. The question now is whether the Warriors can put all the pieces together when the first tee shot of the year is struck.