Idaho Vandals Men’s Golf Team Faces Boise State in Third Annual Battle for Idaho at Hillcrest Country Club
Statewide Bragging Rights on the Line in Moscow-Area Golf Dual
MOSCOW, Idaho — The University of Idaho Vandals men’s golf team is set to clash with Boise State University in the third annual Battle for Idaho, with statewide bragging rights on the line Monday and Tuesday at Hillcrest Country Club. The dual-match format pits two of Idaho’s premier collegiate golf programs against one another in a matchup that has been evenly contested since its inception.
Idaho enters the competition ranked 134th in the Scoreboard Rankings, while Boise State holds a slight edge at 123rd. The dual will be played in a six-count-four format, with two rounds scheduled for Monday and a final round on Tuesday. The course stretches 6,810 yards at a par 71.
Tee times for round one are set for 7:30 a.m. Pacific / 8:30 a.m. Mountain, with two-man pairings going off at nine-minute intervals. Fans are welcome to attend, and live scoring will be available via Scoreboard by Clippd.
Idaho Riding Momentum Into the Matchup
The Vandals arrive at Hillcrest Country Club with considerable momentum. Idaho most recently competed at Chambers Bay, where the team posted its third top-three team finish of the season, coming in second place. Senior Josh McCartain recorded a tied-sixth finish at the event, while fellow senior Sam Johnson finished tied for 11th, providing the Vandals with a strong one-two punch heading into the dual.
McCartain will hold the No. 1 spot in Idaho’s lineup for the Battle for Idaho, with Johnson slotted second. Graduate student Dalton Dean will play in the third position, followed by senior Joe Sykes at No. 4. Sophomore Charley Simpson rounds out the upper portion of the order at No. 5, and freshman Henrik Koglin completes the six-man lineup.
Both programs enter with matching résumés — each has recorded two team wins and three top-three finishes this season — making this matchup as competitive on paper as it has been on the course in previous years. For Idaho fans looking for additional context on the Vandals’ strong recent play, the team made school history earlier this season in Long Beach, underscoring the program’s upward trajectory.
The series between the two schools is deadlocked heading into this year’s event. Idaho claimed victory in the inaugural 2024 Battle for Idaho, while Boise State returned the favor with a win in 2025. The 2026 edition will determine which program can claim sole possession of the series lead for the first time.
Boise State Faces the Dual Without Reigning Player of the Year
Boise State arrives at the event with one significant roster change. The Broncos announced the departure of Cole Rueck, the reigning Mountain West Player of the Year, who has turned professional and qualified for the PGA Tour Americas. Rueck traveled to Brazil, where he competed in the ECP Brazil Open, finishing 55th and making his first professional cut — a notable achievement for a player making his early foray into the professional ranks.
Rueck’s absence could factor into the outcome of this year’s dual, though Boise State’s higher national ranking suggests the Broncos remain a formidable opponent even without their former standout.
Idaho’s golf program has been one of the more consistent performers on the Palouse this spring. In addition to the Chambers Bay result, the Vandals have shown depth and resilience across multiple tournaments. Fans interested in other Vandal athletics action this week can also follow the Big Sky Women’s Golf Championship, which opened Monday. Earlier in the season, Idaho fell short against Eastern Washington to conclude the regular season in another sport, but the men’s golf team has kept spirits high with strong finishes throughout the spring schedule.
What Comes Next
The Battle for Idaho concludes Tuesday at Hillcrest Country Club, with the Vandals looking to reclaim the series lead and carry momentum into the postseason. Live scoring through Scoreboard by Clippd will allow fans unable to attend in person to follow the action in real time. For additional University of Idaho athletics coverage and statewide sports news from across Idaho, visit Idaho News and the Idaho News Network.