BELLINGHAM, Wash. – Western Washington University head men’s golf coach Luke Bennett has announced that Aidan Thain will join the Vikings for the 2018-19 season as a transfer from Colorado Mesa University.
Thain, a Bellevue native and product of Sammamish High School, will be a sophomore for the Vikings when he joins the program in the fall to start the 2018-19 season.
As a freshman at Colorado Mesa in Grand Junction, Colorado, Thain appeared in seven tournaments while recording three top 25 finishes. He finished 3rd on the team with a scoring average of 73.94 (+2.33 to par) in 18 rounds, while recording five rounds of par or better. In his collegiate debut at the Farmers Insurance Samuel Proal Invitational hosted by Colorado State-Pueblo, Thain tied for 5th with a 2-under-par 214 by recording rounds of 70-73-71. He also posted a pair of career-low rounds of 3-under-par 69 in the final round of the Southern Colorado Masters (April 9-10) and the Western New Mexico Fall Intercollegiate (Oct. 2-3).
“I have gotten to know Aidan and his game well and am excited to have him join the program,” said Bennett, who has led WWU to the NCAA II Championships in each of his five seasons as head coach. “He is progressing into a fine player and I believe his best golf is still in front of him. He is just a very disciplined young man and a great student-athlete that will add a lot to the program.”
During his prep career at Sammamish High School, the left-handed swinger was a three-time all-KingCo 2A/3A selection and a three-time participant in the WIAA 2A State Championships. As a senior in 2017, Thain tied for 5th place with a 9-over-par 153 and also placed 24th as a junior and tied for 20th as a sophomore.
Thain also enjoyed success on the summer golf circuit, playing in the Washington State Amateur in 2017 (tied for 61st) and additional Washington Junior Golf Association, Rocky Mountain Junior Golf and American Junior Golf Association events. Thain also placed 2nd at the 2016 Bellingham Junior Open held at Sudden Valley Golf Course and Lake Padden Golf Course.
“As a Washington native, I am excited to continue my college golf career and education at Western Washington University. I look forward to becoming a Viking,” said Thain.
Thain will be joining the WWU program that has advanced to the NCAA Division II Championships in each of the last 20 seasons and won 8 of 11 Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championships. WWU is slated to return seven players from the 2017-18 roster, including GNAC Championships individual medalist Ethan Casto (Snohomish, WA) and GNAC Freshman of the Year Brody Bonfilio (Boise, ID/Bishop Kelly).
