California State University - Sacramento Men's Golf

Kamden Brakel was hired as the Sacramento State men’s golf coach in August of 2015. During his first year leading Sacramento State, the Hornets six top-five finishes, including victories at the Pacific Invitational and the Sacramento State Invitational. The team also posted the five lowest single-round scores in school history, including setting the record with a 271 at the Pacific Invitational. Sacramento State also set the school three-round record after totaling 837 at the Nick Watney Invitational at Fresno State. Individually, Aaron Beverly averaged 71.83 to become the first Hornet to finish the year with a below-par average. Beverly was named the Big Sky Conference Player of the Year and advanced to the NCAA regional. Brakel was named the Big Sky Coach of the Year following the 2016-17 season. That year, the team finished first at the Big Sky Championship and advanced to the NCAA Stanford Regional. Including the conference tournament, Sacramento State finished among the top three in four events. Beverly repeated as Big Sky Player of the Year and was one of three Hornets named to the all-league first team. Sacramento State added its second conference title under Brakel with a convincing 19-stroke win in 2021. The team was led by Ethan Davidson who was the medalist after a birdie on the 16th hole broke a tie and gave him a 1-stroke win. Brakel was named the Big Sky Coach of the Year for the second time in his career. The Hornets set the school scoring record during the 2021-22 season with a team average of 288.03. That season, Sacramento State finished in third place at the Big Sky Championship in a year where the top three teams were separated by only three strokes and the top four teams by only five strokes During the 2022-23 season, Casey Leebrick was the medalist at the Big Sky Championship and earned a berth to the NCAA Tournament as an individual. Leebrick shot 64-71-67-202 at the Big Sky tournament to set the school 54-hole record at the event. The following year (2023-24), Brakel guided the Hornets to another Big Sky Conference Championship. The team held the lead following all three rounds of the tournament and finished three strokes ahead of the closest team. Sacramento State’s stroke average of 27 was the second-lowest in school history. While playing at Hawaii, Brakel competed in 35 tournaments over his four-year career. He was in the lineup in at least seven tournaments each season and recorded a 69 for his lowest round. Brakel graduated with a degree in finance in 2011. He also succeeded in the classroom, earning academic all-Western Athletic Conference honors as a freshman and senior and was the team’s top scholar athlete his last two years. After graduation, Brakel worked in the insurance and wine industries before choosing to return to collegiate golf. He grew wine grapes for LangeTwins Winery and also served a labor manager for vineyard operations. Originally from Acampo, Calif., Brakel was a league champion at Lodi High School all four years. His family is no stranger to Sacramento State as his sister, Kercia, competed for the women’s golf team from 2011-14. Kamden and his wife, Alexandra, were married in 2012. The couple have three children: Declan, Olivia and Teagan.

Rappleye returned to his alma mater to serve as the assistant coach in August of 2015. Rappleye played for the Hornets from 2008-11. He is currently tied for second in school history with a round of 65 at the Bill Cullum Invitational during his senior season. He also owns the eighth-best 54-hole score after totaling 209 at the Purple & Red Invitational in October of 2010. Rappleye's scoring average of 73.48 in 2009-10 places him ninth in the Hornet record book. Following graduation from Sacramento State, Rappleye played on several professional tours.

Sutherland was named Sacramento States Director of Golf prior to the 2007-08 season. In his current capacity, Sutherland oversees both the Hornet mens and womens golf teams while also serving as the primary coach for the women. A veteran PGA Tour player, Sutherland competed in 215 PGA events and 83 Nationwide Tour tournaments during his 17 years on the circuit. A native of Carmichael, Calif., Sutherland recorded eight top 10 and 32 top 25 finishes on the PGA Tour. His best PGA finish came at the 1997 Greater Milwaukee Open where he tied for second. He also recorded a pair of third-place ties, including the 1999 Bell Canadian Open. In addition, Sutherland competed in the British Open and the PGA Tour Championship. While Sutherland had plenty of success on the tour, it was his two years of injuries that drew him to the coaching ranks. Because of my injuries, I had a chance to prepare for life after golf, he explained. I knew that I could only continue to play for a few years and then wanted to begin working with young people. When the opportunity came to coach at Sacramento State, I knew it was a great fit. While at Sacramento State, Sutherland has coached the women to four second place finishes at the Big Sky Championships. In his brief time with the Hornets, Sutherland has already won two conference titles with the men's team. He also served as the director for the Sacramento State Invitational and the NCAA Womens Golf West Regional in 2008 at Lincoln Hills Golf Club. A graduate of Fresno State, Sutherland was a two-time All-American (1987 and 1989). He also succeeded in the classroom where he was an Academic All-American as a senior and was named Fresno States Pacific Coast Athletic Association Student-Athlete of the Year. He turned professional in 1989 and joined the PGA Tour in 1997. Sutherlands brother, Kevin, also starred at Fresno State and is currently a member of the PGA Tour. David and his wife, Molly, live in Carmichael with their two sons.