PITTSBURG – The Pittsburg State University men's golf team will make a bit of history Monday (Mar. 30) when the Gorillas will host a meet for the first time in 14 years at Crestwood Country Club.

The Tommy Riggs Collegiate Invitational, named in honor of former PSU Associate Athletic Director Tommy Riggs who died unexpectedly at age 32 in July 2007, will serve as an MIAA point event in the 2025-26 schedule. Riggs, an invaluable member of the support staff at his alma mater for 10 years, was posthumously inducted into the PSU Athletics Hall of Fame in the Class of 2010.

Pitt State suspended the men's golf program following the 2013-14 season. The program returned to campus following a 10-year hiatus in 2024-25. Monday's meet will be the first home competition for the Gorillas since Sept. 10-11, 2012 when the squad hosted the Pittsburg State Invitational.

"Having the opportunity to host a MIAA designated event is so awesome not only for our athletes but also for the membership at Crestwood and local PSU supporters," PSU head coach Nick Long said. "It gives our athletes the chance to showcase their abilities on their home course in front of what we hope is a nice crowd of people. It allows Crestwood to show off the course and gives local supporters the chance to come watch a program and sport that this university has not had a team in some years. Our guys are excited and ready to show everyone what they are capable of.
 
"What makes the tournament even more special is the fact that we were able to recognize Tommy Riggs in a small but special way. Those who knew Tommy understand how important this university and athletics where to him, so for us to be able to honor him is very cool."
 
The field for the two-day tournament includes 16 schools plus Pittsburg State "A" and "B" teams. In addition to MIAA foes, Bemidji State, Concordia St. Paul, Sioux Falls, Minnesota Crookston and Winona State from the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) will complete as well as Northwestern Oklahoma from the Great American Conference (GAC).
 
Monday's first-round action will feature 36 holes of competition and will get underway with a shotgun start at 8:30 a.m. (CDT). The tournament will wrap up Tuesday (Mar. 31) with 18 holes beginning at 8:30 a.m.
 
Pitt State enters the meet in a tie for third place in the MIAA team standings, trailing only Central Oklahoma (22 pts) and Washburn (17.5 pts). The Gorillas share third place with Central Missouri with 17 points apiece. Among individuals, senior Mason White (Rowlett, Texas) sits in third place and sophomore Tyler Hardtarfer (Goddard, Kan.) ranks 11^th overall in MIAA play.

Pitt State placed sixth overall at the Arkansas Collegiate, competing at Mystic Creek Golf Course in El Dorado, Ark., Mar. 23-24. Sophomore Jack Randall paced the Gorillas with a 15^th place finish in the meet.