While many golfers in Colorado may just be getting their game out of mothballs for 2010, the state’s college teams are hitting the stretch run of their season.
Conference tournaments, which serve as a prelude to NCAA regional and national meets for the better teams, will take place over the next 3½ weeks. The first of the bunch involves the Colorado State University women competing at the Mountain West Conference Championships this week in Seaside, Calif.
Based on performances to date, the University of Denver women and the CSU men have the most potential of all the state’s Division I teams to make some late-season noise. The Pioneers finished fifth at the 2009 NCAA Women’s Championships and are still ranked among the top 20 teams in the nation. The CSU men have won two tournament titles this season and have plenty of roster depth.
Beyond that, some nationally-ranked individuals from Colorado-based schools figure to make their mark in the final weeks of the season. Among the local golfers currently ranked in the top 50 nationally, according to Golfstat.com, are University of Denver senior Espen Kofstad (22nd) (pictured; photo by Rich Clarkson & Associates) and Air Force Academy senior Tom Whitney (26th). For the women, DU senior Stephanie Sherlock (47th) and freshman teammate Kimberly Kim (48th) fit into that category.
A couple of Coloradans who attend out-of-state schools also are ranked high nationally. Broomfield’s Steve Ziegler (Stanford) is 67th according to Golfweek, and Golfstat has Denver’s Becca Huffer (Notre Dame) at 66th.
Without further ado, here’s a rundown of the upcoming conference tournaments involving Colorado-based Division I teams:
“¢Mountain West Conference Women, April 15-17 in Seaside, Calif.: The CSU women seem to be peaking at the right time, having finished fourth, first and third in their last three tournaments. The Rams’ win, their first of the season, came at the MountainView Invitational last month.
Senior Kasey Claussen leads CSU in stroke average (74.93) and ranks sixth in the conference.
“¢Sun Belt Conference Women, April 19-21 in Muscle Shoals, Ala.: The way the University of Denver women have dominated this event, perhaps it should be renamed the Pioneer Invitational. DU has won the Sun Belt title each of the last six years.
This season, the Pioneers have won only one tournament title, but the strength of their schedule is formidable. Last season coming down the stretch, DU placed first at the Sun Belt tournament, first at the NCAA regionals, and fifth at nationals.
Freshman Kimberly Kim, the 2006 U.S. Women’s Amateur champion, leads DU in stroke average (73.65) this season, followed closely by senior Stephanie Sherlock.
“¢Big Sky Conference Women, April 19-21 in Chandler, Ariz.: The University of Northern Colorado women finished a season-best second last month at the Cal Poly Invitational. Sisters Chelsea and Carleigh Silvers, both underclassmen, lead the way for the Bears.
“¢Big 12 Conference Men, April 23-25 in Trinity, Texas: The University of Colorado men are coming off their best finish of the spring, a fourth-place showing at the Wyoming Cowboy Classic in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Last year, the Buffs were runners-up at the Big 12 meet, but two of the best players in recent program history — Derek Tolan and Pat Grady — were seniors in 2008-09. This year, senior Justin Bardgett is the Buffs’ top player, averaging 72.6.
Before going to the Big 12 meet, CU will play in the Aggie Invitational, also in Texas.
“¢Big 12 Conference Women, April 23-25 in Norman, Okla.: The CU women finished a season-best second at the Indiana Invitational in their last outing. Sophomore Emily Talley leads the Buffs in stroke average with a 75.0 norm.
“¢America Sky Conference Men, April 26-27 in McAllen, Texas: The University of Northern Colorado men have recorded one top-five finish this season. Junior Stephen Bidne has had a strong year individually with four top-10 showings, including a victory at the early-season Falcon Invitational at the Air Force Academy. Bidne owns a 73.5 stroke average.
The Bears play at the (BYU) Cougar Classic in Utah immediately before competing in Texas.
“¢Sun Belt Conference Men, April 26-28 at Muscle Shoals, Ala.: University of Denver senior Espen Kofstad hasn’t won a tournament this season, but he’s recorded eight top-10 finishes, including one second and three thirds. The Norwegian sports a stellar 70.87 stroke average.
As a team, DU notched three top-five finishes in the fall, but the Pioneers haven’t placed higher than 13th in their last three tournaments.
The Pioneers finished second at the conference meet last year.
“¢Mountain West Conference Men, May 5-8 in Tucson, Ariz.: Some of the top men’s players from Colorado-based colleges will be competing in Tucson. Air Force senior Tom Whitney ranks third in the conference in stroke average (71.21) and Colorado State senior Riley Arp is sixth (71.87).
Whitney, who qualified for two USGA championships last summer, has had an outstanding final college season, with nine top-eight finishes, including one victory, two seconds and two thirds. He hasn’t placed outside of the top-10 all spring.
Team-wide, CSU has recorded two victories this season, both in the fall, and finished third in last month’s Callaway Collegiate Match Play. The Rams are ranked 36th in the nation according to Golfweek.
Both CSU and Air Force play in the (BYU) Cougar Classic in Utah before going to the conference meet.
