Through three years with the Washington State Men’s golf program, Sam Renner has had top finishes, broken program records and even a postseason win. But after this past fall season, Renner’s junior year is on pace to be his best yet.
Golf has always been a part of Renner’s life, growing up in Bend, Ore., he recalls his grandmother putting a club in his hand at just two years old. He also played baseball and basketball throughout his childhood, but when Renner got to high school he had to choose between golf and baseball during the spring. Renner chose golf, and it turned out to be the right choice.
Throughout his junior golf career, Renner collected six tournament wins during his time with Summit High School. He also participated in the Future Champions Golf Tour, where he posted a top six finish in every tournament he competed in.
Renner recalls first reaching out to coaches in the summer of 2019, but as the recruiting process developed, and fewer schools were being considered, one school always remained near the top of the list, Washington State.
The Oregon native took his first visit to Washington State during his junior year and remembers instantly falling in love with Pullman.
“When you first drive into Pullman you feel the Coug vibe,” Renner said. “Once I got on campus and started talking to people, just seeing how it worked around here I fell in love with it.”
Renner committed to WSU in November of 2021 and made his dreams of becoming a collegiate golfer reality.
When Renner arrived to the Palouse in 2022, for his freshman year, he got to work immediately.
“I wanted to play division one golf so bad I just told myself, ‘I’m all in’,” Renner said. “You have to buy in to being a student-athlete, you can’t dilly dally your way through it.”
This work paid off early as Renner made it into the Cougs starting lineup for the opening tournament, the Husky Invitational. Through three rounds he shot a 225 and carded back-to-back 73s in the second and third rounds. Renner finished in a tie for 39th place and helped the Cougs to a tournament win.
“Cracking the lineup for the first tournament my freshman year and winning as a team was pretty special,” Renner said. “But it also gave me a sense of comfort, knowing I can play at this level.”
Nearly a month later the Cougs traveled to Renner’s home state of Oregon for the Oregon State…
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