CEDAR CITY, Utah – Coming off a sixth-place finish at the SIUE Dolenc Invitational, the Southern Utah University men's golf team heads to California for the Visit Stockton Pacific Invitational Monday through Wednesday, Oct. 12-14, at The Reserve at Spanos Park in Stockton.
The Thunderbirds will join an 18-team field for the three-day tournament hosted by Pacific.
Southern Utah enters its third tournament of the fall after a nine-spot jump in the team standings from its season opener. SUU finished sixth of 17 teams at the Dolenc Invitational at two-under 850 (280-278-292) after placing 15th at the Gene Miranda Falcon Invitational.
The Thunderbirds opened the Dolenc with back-to-back rounds in the 270s, posting a four-under 280 and a six-under 278 to sit in fifth place at 10-under through 36 holes.
Head Coach Richard Church said:
"Finishing sixth at the Dolenc was a good step for this group, and we saw what we're capable of when we put together those first two rounds. The next step is putting three good rounds together. Charlie has been really steady for us all fall, and Jarell and Charles both showed they can go low. We have three guys who played Spanos Park last year, so they know what to expect, and we've had good time to prepare. It's a strong field, and we want to go out there and compete for a top finish."
Tournament Information
What: Visit Stockton Pacific Invitational
When: Monday-Wednesday, Oct. 12-14
Where: The Reserve at Spanos Park
Location: Stockton, California
Host: Pacific
Who: Cal State Fullerton, CSUN, Denver, Eastern Washington, Fresno State, Idaho, Nevada, Pacific, Sacramento State, Saint Mary's, San Francisco, Seattle U, Southern Utah, UC Irvine, UC San Diego, UC Santa Barbara, Utah Tech, and Utah Valley
Live Scoring: https://scoreboard.clippd.com/tournaments/245688/scoring/team
The Thunderbirds
Southern Utah will send the same five golfers into competition for the third consecutive tournament, with Charlie Gillespie moving into the No. 1 position after leading the Thunderbirds at the Dolenc.
- Charlie Gillespie
- Braylon Bingham
- Jing-Cheng (Jarell) Wang
- David (Charles) Serdenia
- Michael Stirland
Gillespie Leads the Lineup After Top-20 Finish
Senior Charlie Gillespie takes over the top spot after posting a top-20 finish at Gateway National.
The St. Andrews, Scotland, native finished tied for 17th at two-under 211 with rounds of 70, 68 and 73. His second-round 68 was his lowest score of the fall.
Gillespie has been the Thunderbirds' most consistent performer through two tournaments. He has completed both events at par or better, totaling two-under 427 through six rounds, and has posted four rounds of par or better this season.
Bingham Coming Off Even-Par Week
Senior Braylon Bingham stays at No. 2 after finishing tied for 24th at even-par 213 at the Dolenc.
The Cedar City native opened the tournament with a three-under 68, the lowest round of his fall season, before following with rounds of 72 and 73.
Bingham's final round included five birdies, on Nos. 5, 7, 8, 10 and 13.
His Dolenc total was a 13-shot improvement from his 226 at the Gene Miranda.
Wang Fires Team-Low Round at Dolenc
Junior Jing-Cheng "Jarell" Wang holds the No. 3 position after producing Southern Utah's low round of the Dolenc Invitational.
Wang fired a four-under 67 in the second round, a round that featured five birdies and one bogey. He finished tied for 37th at two-over 215 with rounds of 72, 67 and 76.
That 67 was a significant part of the six-under 278 that SUU posted in the second round, the Thunderbirds' best team round of the fall.
Serdenia Continues Strong Finishes
David (Charles) Serdenia moves up to No. 4 after improving in each round at Gateway National.
Serdenia opened with a 75 before following with a 72 and a one-under 70 to finish tied for 44th at four-over 217.
His final round featured an eagle on the 455-yard par-4 fifth hole along with birdies on Nos. 10, 13 and 18.
Serdenia has now closed each of his first two tournaments with his lowest round. He shot even-par 72 in the final round of the Gene Miranda before his 70 to finish the Dolenc.
His 217 at the Dolenc was an 18-shot improvement from his 235 total at the season opener.
Stirland Looks to Rebound in Stockton
Michael Stirland rounds out the lineup at No. 5 after leading the Thunderbirds at the season opener.
The Hurricane, Utah, native opened the Dolenc with rounds of one-under 70 and even-par 71 to help SUU sit in fifth place through 36 holes. He finished tied for 61st at 220.
Stirland has posted four rounds of par or better this fall, tied with Gillespie for the most on the team. That includes his three-under 69 in the second round of the Gene Miranda, when he climbed into a tie for 12th on his way to a top-25 finish.
Return to Spanos Park
Gillespie, Bingham and Wang each return with tournament experience at The Reserve at Spanos Park after competing in the 2025 Visit Stockton Pacific Invitational.
Bingham posted a two-under 70 in the second round last year and recorded eight birdies during the tournament, finishing tied for 55th at five-over. Gillespie opened with back-to-back even-par 72s and finished tied for 66th, while Wang lowered his score in each round, going from 79 to 76 to 75.
The par-72 course plays to just over 7,000 yards from the back tees.
Season at a Glance
Through two tournaments, Southern Utah has lowered its team score in five of six rounds compared with its opening round of the season.
Gene Miranda Falcon Invitational: 15th, 883 (300-294-289)
SIUE Dolenc Invitational: 6th of 17, 850 (280-278-292)
Stroke averages (six rounds):
Charlie Gillespie: 71.17
Michael Stirland: 72.50
Braylon Bingham: 73.17
Jing-Cheng (Jarell) Wang: 74.00
David (Charles) Serdenia: 75.33
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