Texas Tech taps into its proven Colombian pipeline, signing junior golf star Samuel Gonzalez to bolster its international roster for 2026.
Texas Tech men's golf continues to flex its international muscle, and this time the Red Raiders are dipping back into one of their most productive pipelines.
Head coach Greg Sands announced the signing of Colombian standout Samuel Gonzalez on National Signing Day, adding another high-upside international talent set to arrive in Lubbock for the 2026–27 season.
For Sands, this is familiar, and proven, territory.
"We are thrilled to welcome Samuel Gonzalez Rivera to the Texas Tech Men's Golf family," Sands said. "Sam is one of the top players in South America and represents the next generation of elite Colombian golfers."
That statement carries weight.
Texas Tech's history with Colombian golfers is not just successful, it's foundational. Names like Esteban Restrepo, Ivan Ramirez, and Santiago Rivas helped build the program's national profile, and Gonzalez now steps directly into that legacy.
Born and raised in Manizales, Colombia, Gonzalez has built an impressive body of work that already spans multiple continents.
He captured the South American Junior Championship in Uruguay, earned a spot on the 2024 International Junior Presidents Cup Team, and represented his country at the Toyota Junior World Cup in Japan.
He is currently a member of the 2026 Colombia National Junior Team, cementing his status as one of the region’s premier young golfers.
The results back it up.
In 2025 alone, Gonzalez posted a first-place finish at the Copa Eduardo Herrera, finished third at AJGA Panama, and placed ninth at the prestigious Junior Orange Bowl International, a proving ground for elite junior talent worldwide.
Those finishes reflect not only consistency but the ability to compete under pressure against deep international fields.
From a program standpoint, this signing fits Texas Tech's identity perfectly.
Sands has long prioritized competitive toughness, global recruiting reach, and players who arrive battle-tested. Gonzalez checks every box: talent, experience, and an understanding of what it takes to win on big stages.
Texas Tech isn't rebuilding. It's reloading, and doing it with intention.
With Gonzalez joining the roster in 2026-27, the Red Raiders once again position themselves as a national contender fueled by elite international talent. And if history is any indicator, another Colombian golfer in scarlet and black may soon be making noise well beyond Lubbock.