Men's Golf
Banger, Mason
Mason Banger
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
- Alma Mater:
- Harding, '18
- Year at UCLA:
- 2nd in 2024-25
- Email:
- mbanger@athletics.ucla.edu
Mason Banger enters his third season as an assistant coach with the UCLA men’s golf team in 2025-26. He joined the Bruins’ program in July of 2023, working alongside head coach Armen Kirakossian.
Banger and Kirakossian have positioned UCLA to play their best golf in years, having concluded the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons with NCAA postseason trips. UCLA advanced to the NCAA Stanford Regional in 2023-24 before securing a spot at the 2025 NCAA Championships in Carlsbad, Calif. The Bruins finished in third place at the 2025 NCAA Auburn Regional, advancing through to the program’s first NCAA Championships appearance since 2018.
In Banger’s two years with UCLA’s program, the Bruins have placed third or better in 11 tournaments. The Bruins produced three team tournaments wins in 2024-25 and had one runner-up finish that season. During the fall season, the Bruins won The Preserve Golf Club Collegiate in Carmel, Calif. That marked UCLA’s first team win since taking the title at The Lamkin San Diego Classic in 2021. The Bruins finished in first place out of 30 teams at The Goodwin, hosted by Stanford University in March 2025. In their first season as members of the Big Ten Conference, UCLA won the Big Ten Championships at Baltimore Country Club, finishing one stroke ahead of second-place Illinois. The Bruins finished third or higher in seven tournaments in 2024-25, including a runner-up finish in October 2024 at the Golf Club of Georgia Collegiate. UCLA closed the 2024-25 golf season under par as a team (-62) across 13 stroke play tournaments, marking the second straight year in which UCLA finished the season under par.
At the conclusion of the 2024-25 campaign, Kirakossian was recognized as the NCAA Division I Golf Pride Grips West Region Coach of the Year (selected by the Golf Coaches Association of America). Kirakossian was also a finalist for the 2025 NCAA Division I Dave Williams Coach of the Year Award.
UCLA swept the 2025 Big Ten Conference men’s golf awards, including Kirakossian being named the league’s Coach of the Year. Pablo Ereño was honored as the Big Ten Men’s Golfer of the Year and Baylor Larrabee was recognized as the conference’s Freshman of the Year. Kirakossian became UCLA’s first head coach to secure conference Coach of the Year acclaim since 2010-11 (Derek Freeman). Likewise, Ereño became the Bruins’ first student-athlete to earn conference Golfer of the Year accolades since Patrick Cantlay in 2010-11.
Through Banger’s first two seasons in Westwood, Omar Morales and Pablo Ereño had very strong individual campaigns. Both student-athletes were selected on a pair of All-America lists. Ereño secured third-team GCAA All-America acclaim as a senior (2025) and Morales earned the same honor as a junior (2024) before being recognized as an honorable mention in 2025. At the conclusion of stroke play at the 2025 NCAA Championships, Morales and Ereño were ranked No. 9 and No. 10, respectively, in the final PGA TOUR University rankings PGA TOUR U. Morales and Ereño earned first-team all-league honors in 2024 and 2025 – awards in the Pac-12 (2024) and Big Ten (2025), respectively. Both golfers were named to the Ben Hogan Award Watch List heading into the spring seasons in 2024 and 2025. During the 2023-24 season, Morales and Ereño became UCLA’s first golfers selected to that award’s watch list since 2015-16.
Ereño and Morales joined teammates Kyle An and Baylor Larrabee as All-Big Ten Conference honorees in 2025. An and Larrabee secured second-team acclaim on the list of all-league selections. That marked the first time in which UCLA’s program had four or more all-league honorees since the 2012-13 (in the Pac-12 Conference).
Morales and Ereño concluded their collegiate careers ranking second and third, respectively, in scoring average – Morales at 71.22 (116 rounds) and Ereño at 71.32 (133 rounds). Ereño graduated from UCLA with the highest number of career under par rounds (63), with Morales ranking third on that list (57 rounds). Morales posted a single-season school record scoring average in 2023-24 (69.91), while Ereño followed in the No. 2 spot in 2024-25 with an average of 70.23. They tied for the school single-season record for rounds in the 60s – Ereño with 19 rounds in 2024-25, and Morales having equaled that number in 2023-24.
Morales continued to represent UCLA on the sport’s highest level with a second-straight U.S. Open berth at Pinehurst No. 2 in 2024. He earned an invitation to the World Wide Technology Championship in Nov. 2024, competing at his third PGA TOUR event. Morales competed in second PGA TOUR event at the Mexico Open and put on an impressive showing at the Latin America Amateur Championships where he placed runner-up.
Banger’s first year as a coach at UCLA (2023-24) featured strong campaigns from Ereño, Morales and then-freshman Luke Powell. Morales established program records in scoring average (69.91), rounds under par (25) and rounds in the 60s (19). Ereño’s marks were just as impressive, as the Spaniard significantly improved his play during the spring season. Ereño compiled a 70.78 scoring average, which ranks seventh in school history. He ranked second on the squad behind Morales with six top-10 finishes, eight top-20 finishes, 22 rounds under par and 15 rounds in the 60s. Powell had one of the most dominant freshman campaigns in UCLA history with three top-3 finishes, including a medal, in his first four collegiate events. The Bruins’ fall 2023 portion was highlighted by back-to-back individual wins from Powell and Morales. Powell, competing in his second tournament, shot -17, 199 (64-67-68) to earn his first title at the Hamptons Intercollegiate. Less than two weeks later, in Oct. 2024, Morales claimed his second career medal in UCLA’s next event at the Golf Club of Georgia Collegiate. He shot -11, 205 (68-68-69).
Banger arrived to Westwood with three and a half seasons of NCAA Division I and II coaching experience. Most recently, Banger spent the spring of 2022 and the entire 2022-23 season at Abilene Christian, where he helped the Wildcats to the 2022 Western Athletic Conference Championship in their first year in the new league. That also marked Abilene Christian's first men's golf conference title as a Division I program.
The Wildcats finished 2021-22 with a 10th-place finish in the NCAA Stockton Regional. Abilene Christian placed eighth at the 2023 WAC Championship after graduating five key members from the previous season’s squad.
Prior to coaching at Abilene Christian, Banger served as a coach at Louisiana in 2020-21. The Ragin’ Cajuns posted four top-five finishes, including a season-best runner-up placement at the Louisiana Classics on their home course at Oakbourne Country Club.
In the 2018-19 campaign, Banger served as a graduate assistant at his alma mater, Harding University (Division II), where he understudied head coach Dustin Howell, who had led the Bison’s men’s golf program for 15 seasons.
Banger competed at Harding from 2014-18, setting the program career record for wins (3), stroke average (73.99), rounds under par (27), rounds played (112) and best winning percentage (.776). He was a three-time All-Great American Conference golfer, including first-team accolades in 2018 when he also earned PING All-Central Region honors.
A team captain at Harding, Banger was an academic all-conference selection and a 2018 Srixon/Cleveland Golf and GCAA All-American Scholar Athlete. He also served as caddy for English professional golfer Harry Ellis at the 2018 U.S. Open and 2018 Memorial Tournament.
Banger earned his bachelor’s degree in sport and recreation management from Harding in 2018. He later earned his master’s degree in education (MSE) in kinesiology in 2020.
Banger and Kirakossian have positioned UCLA to play their best golf in years, having concluded the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons with NCAA postseason trips. UCLA advanced to the NCAA Stanford Regional in 2023-24 before securing a spot at the 2025 NCAA Championships in Carlsbad, Calif. The Bruins finished in third place at the 2025 NCAA Auburn Regional, advancing through to the program’s first NCAA Championships appearance since 2018.
In Banger’s two years with UCLA’s program, the Bruins have placed third or better in 11 tournaments. The Bruins produced three team tournaments wins in 2024-25 and had one runner-up finish that season. During the fall season, the Bruins won The Preserve Golf Club Collegiate in Carmel, Calif. That marked UCLA’s first team win since taking the title at The Lamkin San Diego Classic in 2021. The Bruins finished in first place out of 30 teams at The Goodwin, hosted by Stanford University in March 2025. In their first season as members of the Big Ten Conference, UCLA won the Big Ten Championships at Baltimore Country Club, finishing one stroke ahead of second-place Illinois. The Bruins finished third or higher in seven tournaments in 2024-25, including a runner-up finish in October 2024 at the Golf Club of Georgia Collegiate. UCLA closed the 2024-25 golf season under par as a team (-62) across 13 stroke play tournaments, marking the second straight year in which UCLA finished the season under par.
At the conclusion of the 2024-25 campaign, Kirakossian was recognized as the NCAA Division I Golf Pride Grips West Region Coach of the Year (selected by the Golf Coaches Association of America). Kirakossian was also a finalist for the 2025 NCAA Division I Dave Williams Coach of the Year Award.
UCLA swept the 2025 Big Ten Conference men’s golf awards, including Kirakossian being named the league’s Coach of the Year. Pablo Ereño was honored as the Big Ten Men’s Golfer of the Year and Baylor Larrabee was recognized as the conference’s Freshman of the Year. Kirakossian became UCLA’s first head coach to secure conference Coach of the Year acclaim since 2010-11 (Derek Freeman). Likewise, Ereño became the Bruins’ first student-athlete to earn conference Golfer of the Year accolades since Patrick Cantlay in 2010-11.
Through Banger’s first two seasons in Westwood, Omar Morales and Pablo Ereño had very strong individual campaigns. Both student-athletes were selected on a pair of All-America lists. Ereño secured third-team GCAA All-America acclaim as a senior (2025) and Morales earned the same honor as a junior (2024) before being recognized as an honorable mention in 2025. At the conclusion of stroke play at the 2025 NCAA Championships, Morales and Ereño were ranked No. 9 and No. 10, respectively, in the final PGA TOUR University rankings PGA TOUR U. Morales and Ereño earned first-team all-league honors in 2024 and 2025 – awards in the Pac-12 (2024) and Big Ten (2025), respectively. Both golfers were named to the Ben Hogan Award Watch List heading into the spring seasons in 2024 and 2025. During the 2023-24 season, Morales and Ereño became UCLA’s first golfers selected to that award’s watch list since 2015-16.
Ereño and Morales joined teammates Kyle An and Baylor Larrabee as All-Big Ten Conference honorees in 2025. An and Larrabee secured second-team acclaim on the list of all-league selections. That marked the first time in which UCLA’s program had four or more all-league honorees since the 2012-13 (in the Pac-12 Conference).
Morales and Ereño concluded their collegiate careers ranking second and third, respectively, in scoring average – Morales at 71.22 (116 rounds) and Ereño at 71.32 (133 rounds). Ereño graduated from UCLA with the highest number of career under par rounds (63), with Morales ranking third on that list (57 rounds). Morales posted a single-season school record scoring average in 2023-24 (69.91), while Ereño followed in the No. 2 spot in 2024-25 with an average of 70.23. They tied for the school single-season record for rounds in the 60s – Ereño with 19 rounds in 2024-25, and Morales having equaled that number in 2023-24.
Morales continued to represent UCLA on the sport’s highest level with a second-straight U.S. Open berth at Pinehurst No. 2 in 2024. He earned an invitation to the World Wide Technology Championship in Nov. 2024, competing at his third PGA TOUR event. Morales competed in second PGA TOUR event at the Mexico Open and put on an impressive showing at the Latin America Amateur Championships where he placed runner-up.
Banger’s first year as a coach at UCLA (2023-24) featured strong campaigns from Ereño, Morales and then-freshman Luke Powell. Morales established program records in scoring average (69.91), rounds under par (25) and rounds in the 60s (19). Ereño’s marks were just as impressive, as the Spaniard significantly improved his play during the spring season. Ereño compiled a 70.78 scoring average, which ranks seventh in school history. He ranked second on the squad behind Morales with six top-10 finishes, eight top-20 finishes, 22 rounds under par and 15 rounds in the 60s. Powell had one of the most dominant freshman campaigns in UCLA history with three top-3 finishes, including a medal, in his first four collegiate events. The Bruins’ fall 2023 portion was highlighted by back-to-back individual wins from Powell and Morales. Powell, competing in his second tournament, shot -17, 199 (64-67-68) to earn his first title at the Hamptons Intercollegiate. Less than two weeks later, in Oct. 2024, Morales claimed his second career medal in UCLA’s next event at the Golf Club of Georgia Collegiate. He shot -11, 205 (68-68-69).
Banger arrived to Westwood with three and a half seasons of NCAA Division I and II coaching experience. Most recently, Banger spent the spring of 2022 and the entire 2022-23 season at Abilene Christian, where he helped the Wildcats to the 2022 Western Athletic Conference Championship in their first year in the new league. That also marked Abilene Christian's first men's golf conference title as a Division I program.
The Wildcats finished 2021-22 with a 10th-place finish in the NCAA Stockton Regional. Abilene Christian placed eighth at the 2023 WAC Championship after graduating five key members from the previous season’s squad.
Prior to coaching at Abilene Christian, Banger served as a coach at Louisiana in 2020-21. The Ragin’ Cajuns posted four top-five finishes, including a season-best runner-up placement at the Louisiana Classics on their home course at Oakbourne Country Club.
In the 2018-19 campaign, Banger served as a graduate assistant at his alma mater, Harding University (Division II), where he understudied head coach Dustin Howell, who had led the Bison’s men’s golf program for 15 seasons.
Banger competed at Harding from 2014-18, setting the program career record for wins (3), stroke average (73.99), rounds under par (27), rounds played (112) and best winning percentage (.776). He was a three-time All-Great American Conference golfer, including first-team accolades in 2018 when he also earned PING All-Central Region honors.
A team captain at Harding, Banger was an academic all-conference selection and a 2018 Srixon/Cleveland Golf and GCAA All-American Scholar Athlete. He also served as caddy for English professional golfer Harry Ellis at the 2018 U.S. Open and 2018 Memorial Tournament.
Banger earned his bachelor’s degree in sport and recreation management from Harding in 2018. He later earned his master’s degree in education (MSE) in kinesiology in 2020.
UCLA Men’s Golf Interview - Coach Armen Kirakossian, B1G Today (May 16, 2025)
Saturday, May 17
UCLA Men’s Golf Interview – Coach Armen Kirakossian, B1G Today (May 16, 2025)
Friday, May 16
Omar Morales Press Conference - Latin America Amateur Championships (Jan. 20, 2024)
Saturday, January 20
Veterans Golf Clinic
Wednesday, January 22
