Where there is a Thiess, there is a way! Al and Willa Thiess started the tournament in 2012. Both Al and WIlla attended MSU, while Al was also a member of the MSU Men’s Golf Team.

During Al’s college spring breaks, the Michigan State golf coach, Bruce Fossum, along with the players, would pack up the team station wagon with their clubs and head down to Spartanburg, SC. It wasn’t just the spring break golf trips that made an impact on young Al; it was also the hospitality of Bruce and his wife, Mary, the coach of the MSU women’s golf team. They would host the golfers of both the men’s and women’s teams, along with their boyfriends or girlfriends, on Sunday nights, as dinners weren’t served in the dorms during those years. Today, the Colleton River Collegiate provides housing for the teams, coaches, and officials through Colleton River residents hosting players and coaches not only with a place to sleep but also with food to refuel. Tom Eagan, the chairman of the tournament committee, told us that he has heard multiple times from players and family members that the “hospitality is like no other tournament.” The 2026 tournament had 48 Member Host Homes!

Through the 14 years of the Colleton River Collegiate, there has been exponential growth in the number of teams and the hospitality of the resident volunteers. From 4 colleges in 2012 to 15 colleges represented this year in the 2026 tournament. There have also been new experiences for the athletes, parents, and fans added each year. A few years ago, the committee had the exceptional idea to provide free lunch to the parents of the players. This year, the players and attendees got a unique experience of the Parris Island Marine Corps, presenting the Morning Colors for the opening of the tournament. The tournament also added a new electronic scoreboard for quick and timely updates!

The 2026 Colleton River Collegiate Team Champion was the University of Kentucky Wildcats with 11-under par, and the Individual Champion was Diego Do Patrocinio Lourenco from Memphis. This was the first tournament win for the Kentucky Men’s Golf since 2017 and the first-ever win for their head coach, Gator Todd.

A special shout-out to our own, Jack Crousore, Colleton River member and University of Minnesota student, who finished T-10 at 2-under par! Way to go, Jack!

Thank you to 182 member volunteers and committee members for all of the hard work and dedication it takes to pull off another outstanding year!

Chairman: Tom Eagan

Ryan Adams, Julie Blatnik, Joe Bush, Lee Irving, Robin Liberatore, Kirsten Liberatore, Jim Remsen, Eric Schultz, Lauren Smith, Sally Stevens, Willa Thiess, and Terry Thomas