It was a close call, but the Mark Simpson Colorado Invitational kept intact its record of every year producing a team and/or individual winner from the Centennial State.
For the second time in the last three years, the host University of Colorado men claimed the team title — or at least a part of it. The Buffs, who entered Tuesday’s final round at Colorado National Golf Club in Erie with a six-stroke lead, settled for a share of the championship with fellow Pac-12 school Washington State.
The Cougars shot a 2-under-par 286 on Tuesday, making up seven strokes on the Buffs. Both teams finished at 18-over-par 882, with another Pac-12 school, Oregon State, a stroke back in the 16-team event. As for other Colorado-based teams, Air Force was sixth, CU’s B squad was 10th, Denver was 12th and Northern Colorado was 14th.
“Obviously we’re excited to win,” CU coach Roy Edwards said. “We’re definitely disappointed in how we played today, but the fact that we still won is a testament to our team and some resiliency displayed out there by those guys. With three freshmen in the lineup, any time you win in that scenario makes it especially sweet.”
CU also claimed the team title in 2011, while Denver resident Mark Hubbard, competing for San Jose State, landed the individual championship in 2010, while CU’s Beau Schoolcraft prevailed (with San Diego’s Alex Ching) in 2011, and Colorado State’s Kirby Pettitt came out on top last year.
In this year’s individual competition, Preston Stanley of Houston Baptist kept the lead he held after the first day and emerged with a five-stroke victory. His final-round 69 gave him at 6-under 210 total.
Five players from Colorado schools finished in the top 10: CU’s Philip Juel-Berg (fourth, 216), Air Force’s Kyle Westmoreland (fifth, 217), Air Force’s Matthew Dunn (eighth, 219), Northern Colorado’s Ben Krueger (eighth, 219 after a final-round 67) and CU’s David Oraee (eighth, 219).
Westmoreland has placed in the top five in both of his first two tournaments of the season.
1. Colorado 299-290-293–882
4. Philip Juel-Berg 73-71-72–216; 8. David Oraee 75-73-71–219; 20. Jeremy Paul 74-75-75–224; 27. Ethan Freeman 77-71-77–225; 36. Andrew Bonner 77-75-75–227.
6. Air Force 313-290-286–889
5. Kyle Westmoreland 72-72-73–217; 8. Matthew Dunn 79-70-70–219; 42. Jack Howard 78-79-71–228; 49. Philip Colwell 84-73-72–229; 82. Todd Berglund 87-75-80–241. Competing Only as Individuals: 42. Blake Edwards 82-76-70–228; 69. Miguel Macias 77-74-84–235.
10. Colorado B 319-292-296–907
11. John Hayes 75-71-74–220; 17. Kraig McLeod 82-70-71–223; 30. Yannik Paul 79-74-73–226; 78. Drew Trujillo 83-77-78–238.
12. Denver 312-298-299–909
30. Victor Doka 74-76-76–226; 36. Ole Ramsnes 82-72-73–227; 49. Oskar Arvidsson 78-76-75–229; 54. Patrick Frodigh 81-74-75–230; 64. Arthy Edelman 79-78-76–233. Competing Only as an Individual: 49. Petter Mikalsen 79-76-74–229.
14. Northern Colorado 320-307-287–914
8. Ben Krueger 80-72-67–219; 20. Steven Kupcho 74-78-72–224; 72. Conner Barr 81-77-78–236; 79. Jack Cummings 85-80-74–239; 84. Steve Connell 90-82-74–246.
CJGA Collegiate High School Invitational
1. Spencer Painton 82-71-69–222; 2. Josh Seiple 77-73-75–225; 3. Jake Staiano 76-77-74–227; 4. Glenn Workman 84-75-70–229; 5. Chris Korte 77-75-78–230; 6. (tie) Coby Welch 81-76-79–236; Kyler Dunkle 82-77-77–236; 8. Ross Macdonald 80-79-79–238.
