Tuesday marked a spring breakthrough for the University of Colorado men’s golf team.
The Buffs scored a victory in the 19-team Wyoming Cowboy Classic in Chandler, Ariz. It was their second championship in a large-scale tournament this season, but their first in the spring portion of the schedule since winning the Bandon Dunes Championship in 2013.
On Tuesday, CU posted an eight-stroke victory over Sam Houston State. The Buffs shot a 7-under-par 281 in the final round to finish at 21-under 851.
Two CU players placed in the top 10 individually, with junior Jeremy Paul (pictured) sharing the title after earning a spot in a four-man playoff. Both he and Jordan Gumberg of Arizona parred the one and only playoff hole, while the other two players bogeyed. Paul, who’s in the running for a spot on the European team for the Arnold Palmer Cup matches against the Americans, posted rounds of 69-68-68 for an 11-under-par 205 total.
It was Paul’s second individual victory in a large-scale college tournament as he tied for the title in the Oregon Duck Invitational in 2014.
In addition, two-time CGA Junior Stroke Play champion Ross Macdonald placed ninth Tuesday with a 211 total (72-69-70). It was the second top-10 finish as a college freshman for Macdonald.
“The guys were tremendous and really competed hard” over the last two rounds, CU coach Roy Edwards said. “That’s what I was most proud of.”
Among those who witnessed CU’s strong showing Tuesday was former Buff golfer Steve Jones, the 1996 U.S. Open champion who lives in Arizona.
Meanwhile, at the Silverado Showdown in Napa, Calif., the CU women had a player in contention on Tuesday. Junior Esther Lee scored a third-place individual showing there. She shot a 4-under-par 68 in the final round, giving her a 3-under 213 total, which left her two strokes behind champion Cathleen Santoso of Oregon.
It was Lee’s third top-five individual finish of the season. Also placing in the top 10 Tuesday for CU was Natalie Vivaldi, who was 10th at 219.
The CU women ended up fourth as a team in the 18-school event.
Wyoming Cowboy Classic
April 4-5, 2016 (final) in Chandler, Ariz.
1. (out of 19 teams) Colorado 290-272-281–843
P1. Jeremy Paul 69-68-68–205; 9. Ross Macdonald 72-69-70–211; 13. John Souza 75-66-72–213; 16. Ethan Freeman 74-69-71–214; 91. Philip Juel-Berg 76-75-78–229. Competing only as individual: 72. Pierce Aichinger 76-74-75–225; 91. Wilson Belk 85-69-75–229; 109. Kade Crossland 84-75-84–243.
12. Air Force Academy 299-294-282–875
11. Sunwoo Choi 72-74-66–212; 34. Bryant Falconello 77-71-70–218; 37. Michael Fan 75-71-73–219; 83. Dana Hankamer 75-79-73–227; 103. Turner Howe 77-78-78–233. Competing only as individual: 72. Brenden Bone 74-73-78–225; 96. Troy Berglund 75-78-78–231.
Also
37. Coloradan Glenn Workman, Wyoming 74-71-74–219
Silverado Showdown
April 3-5, 2016 (final) in Napa, Calif.
4. (out of 18 teams) Colorado 290-301-292–883
3. Esther Lee 73-72-68–213; 10. Natalie Vivaldi 72-72-75–219; 31. Alexis Keating 74-78-72–224; 47. Brittany Fan 71-79-78–228; 73. Gillian Vance 77-80-77–234. Competing only as individual: 63. Allie Zech 77-78-77–232.
