Collegiate Stars Turned TOUR Standouts
At a tournament defined by excellence and opportunity, The Genesis Invitational Collegiate Showcase has carved out a legacy all of its own. Since 2015, the Collegiate Showcase has offered rising collegiate stars a chance to earn a spot into a PGA TOUR field, turning dreams into tee times at some of golf’s iconic venues.
More than just a pathway, the Collegiate Showcase has become a proving ground where competitive spirit, collegiate pride and professional ambition converge. As part of the tournament’s centennial celebration, we reflect on this unique tradition and the alumni who have since risen to the game’s highest stage.
WILL ZALATORIS
The story of the Collegiate Showcase began with Will Zalatoris. Then a freshman at Wake Forest, Zalatoris captured the inaugural title in 2015, setting the tone for what the showcase would become: A proving ground for rising stars.
After turning professional at the start of 2018, Zalatoris made an impression on golf’s biggest stages. A solo runner-up finish in his Masters debut in 2021 and a top-10 showing at the 2020 U.S. Open signaled his arrival as a major contender. His consistent excellence earned him PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year and in 2022, Zalatoris broke through with his first TOUR victory at the FedEx St. Jude Championship.
SAHITH THEEGALA
The 2017 Collegiate Showcase belonged to a SoCal standout with a smooth swing and fearless mindset. As a sophomore at Pepperdine University, Sahith Theegala emerged victorious at Riviera, earning his spot in the tournament field and marking his arrival on one of golf’s grandest stages. Theegala made the cut, playing the weekend at Riviera while finishing at 2-under-par for the week.
Later that summer, Theegala returned to Riviera to compete in the 2017 U.S. Amateur Championship, gaining even more experience on a course that would become central to his early journey. He turned professional in 2020 and quickly became a fan favorite. His continued rise was punctuated by his first PGA TOUR win at the 2023 Fortinet Championship and a spot on Team USA at the 2024 Presidents Cup.
SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER
Before he was World No. 1, he was a collegiate standout. In 2018, Scottie Scheffler teed it up at Riviera as a senior at the University of Texas, where he claimed the Collegiate Showcase title and earned a coveted spot in the Genesis Open field. It marked his fifth career PGA TOUR start and offered a glimpse of the poise and consistency that would come to define his game.
Since earning his PGA TOUR card in 2019, Scheffler has built one of the most impressive competitive stretches in recent history. Today, he stands as a three-time major champion, winning the Masters in 2022 and 2024, and recently the PGA Championship in 2025. With 16 PGA TOUR wins to his name and an Olympic gold medal, Scheffler has cemented his place among golf’s most elite and his legacy continues to grow.
COLE RUECK
The newest name to carry the Collegiate Showcase legacy forward is Cole Rueck from Boise State University, who made history as the event’s first two-time champion. As a sophomore in 2024, Rueck clinched the victory with a clutch birdie in a playoff, earning him an exemption into the Genesis Scottish Open. Returning one year later as a junior, Rueck came to defend his title and secured a one-shot victory against the 12-player field at Torrey Pines to become the showcase’s first back-to-back champion. The win secured his ticket into the 2025 Barracuda Championship, marking his second start on the PGA TOUR.
PAST PARTICIPANTS
Beyond the winners’ circle, The Genesis Invitational Collegiate Showcase has welcomed an impressive roster of players who’ve gone on to thrive at the game’s highest level.
Beau Hossler (left), representing the University of Texas in 2016, earned his PGA TOUR card the following year and has remained a steady presence on TOUR ever since. In 2019, Cameron Young (center) and Harry Hall (right) competed in the Collegiate Showcase, both making their presence felt at Riv. The same year Hall participated in the event, the UNLV star turned pro and recently in 2024 claimed his first victory on the PGA TOUR at the ISCO Championship. Young has gone on to become a household name and one of PGA TOUR’s promising talents. He was named PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year for the 2021-22 season, a runner-up finish at the 150th Open Championship and represent Team USA at the 2022 Presidents Cup.
CELEBRATING 100 YEARS
The Genesis Invitational continues a longstanding tradition of professional golf in Los Angeles. Debuting in 1926 as the Los Angeles Open at Los Angeles Country Club, the tournament was staged at various courses around the Los Angeles area before finding its permanent home at The Riviera Country Club. For a century the tournament has played host to iconic moments, legendary champions and defining chapters in the game of golf. In this special series, we look back on a century of tournament history and Celebrating 100 years of memorable golf stories.