Even if that first individual college victory is proving elusive for Ethan Freeman, the University of Colorado golfer is having a senior season to remember.
The Denver resident (pictured), who won two 3A state high school titles while at Kent Denver, tied for seventh Saturday against a formidable 120-man field in CU’s spring season opener, the Amer Ari Invitational in Waikoloa, Hawaii.
In seven tournaments so far this season, Freeman has now recorded a remarkable five top-10 finishes. So far for his CU career, he has 11 top-10s.
After a second-round 65 — which matched his best college round — Freeman was in second place heading into the final day. But he lost some ground with a 1-over-par 73 on Saturday, though he birdied his final two holes. He carded a 10-under-par 206 total, which left him six strokes out of the top spot.
With senior teammate Jeremy Paul placing fifth following a bogey-free 6-under-par 66 on Saturday, the Buffs posted a fourth-place finish out of 21 teams in a tournament which featured seven Pac-12 schools, six of which ended up in the top seven overall.
CU, ranked 24th in the nation by Golfweek, recorded a 7-under-par 281 total in round 3 and finished at 23-under 841 for three rounds. Texas Tech won the tournament at 820.
Paul, who finished 72nd in the final stage of Web.com Tour Q-school in December, notched his best showing of the college season by tying for fifth at 211.
Also placing in the top 10 on Saturday was Colorado resident Wyndham Clark, the Oregon senior who is ranked No. 1 nationally among college players by Golfstat. Clark made an eagle on Saturday to help him shoot 69 and post a 207 total, good for 10th place. In five college tournaments this season, Clark has finished second, third, sixth, first and 10th. Like Freeman, Clark won two individual state high school titles in Colorado.
Amer Ari Invitational
Feb. 2-4, 2017 in Waikoloa, Hawaii
4. (out of 21 teams) Colorado 281-279-281–841
5. Jeremy Paul 70-69-66–205
7. Ethan Freeman 68-65-73–206
45. Yannik Paul 72-70-73–215
56. John Souza 73-75-69–217
114. Morten Toft Hansen 71-81-78–230
Also
10. Coloradan Wyndham Clark, Oregon 70-68-69–207
