University of Denver sophomore Chris Korte led the Summit League Championships by three strokes heading into the final nine holes on Tuesday, but a 4-over-par 40 on the back nine forced him to settle for a share of second place in Newton, Kan.
The 2015 CGA Stroke Play champion carded a 2-under 34 on the front nine Tuesday to extend his lead. And he still shared the top spot after finishing with a 2-over-par 74. But Kevin Gordon of Omaha birdied the 17th hole to pull ahead and won by one stroke after closing with a 68.
Korte posted a 1-over-par 217 total along with Ben Maskus of Omaha and Felipe Strobach of South Dakota State.
Korte’s runner-up showing was the 13th top-10 finish by local players in NCAA Division I conference tournaments this spring. Here’s the rundown:
— DU’s Jessica Carty (first in women’s Summit League)
— Coloradan Jennifer Kupcho, Wake Forest (second in women’s ACC)
— CSU’s Katrina Prendergast (second in women’s Mountain West)
— DU’s Mariell Bruun (second in women’s Summit League)
— Coloradan Jaylee Tait, Montana State (third in women’s Big Sky)
— DU’s Jessica Dreesbeimdieke (third in women’s Summit League)
— CU’s Alexis Keating (fifth in women’s Pac-12)
— DU’s Kathi Baratta (fifth in women’s Summit League)
— UNC’s Steven Kupcho (sixth in men’s Big Sky)
— CSU’s Dominic Kieffer (sixth in men’s Mountain West)
— CU’s Jeremy Paul (seventh in men’s Pac-12)
— DU’s Sophie Newlove (eighth in women’s Summit League)
Team-wise on Tuesday, the DU men tied for seventh place in the nine-school field, posting a 52-over-par 916 total.
Men’s Summit League Championship
May 1-3, 2016 (final) in Newton, Kan.
7. (out of 9 teams) Denver 306-305-305–916
2. Chris Korte 72-71-74–217; 24. Jake Kelley 75-75-78–228; 36. Adam Ruben 81-77-78–236; 38. Arti Edelman 78-82-78–238; 42. Michael Boylan 82-84-75–241.
