The Men’s Mountain West Conference Championship turned out to be a good old-fashioned shootout, but Colorado State wasn’t the last team standing, though it came very close.
Seeking their first league title since 2010 — and the automatic NCAA Regional berth that would have gone with it — the Rams fell just short of the mark Sunday in Tucson, Ariz.
After going into the final round with a two-stroke lead — and still being ahead with nine holes left — CSU was edged on the final hole and had to settle for a runner-up finish, one stroke behind UNLV, which successfully defended its title. Five teams in the 11-school field finished the 54-hole event at least 14 under par, with UNLV posting an 18-under-par total and Colorado State checking in at 17 under.
CSU and UNLV were tied for the team lead with just the final group of the day left on the course. Unfortunately for the Rams, senior Blake Cannon bogeyed the 470-yard, par-4 18th, leaving CSU one back of UNLV.
Cannon and teammate Colton Yates led the way for the Rams, tying for eighth place at 5-under 211. Colorado resident Jake Staiano was 11th at 212. (April 27 Update: Staiano was subsequently named to the All-Mountain West Conference team.)
Meanwhile, Sunwoo Choi of the Air Force Academy placed sixth individually at 210 as the Falcons were seventh in the team standings.
At the Women’s Summit League Championship in Nebraska City, where the University of Denver is seeking its 14th straight conference title, DU grabbed a one-stroke lead over South Dakota State following the first round.
The Pioneers opened with an 8-over-par 296. Senior Jessica Carty, the defending champion, posted an even-par 72 which left her in second place, three strokes behind Megan Mingo of South Dakota State.
At the Women’s Big Sky Championship in Boulder City, Nev., Northern Colorado wrapped up its season with a fifth-place finish out of the 12-team field. UNC posted a 58-over-par 922 total. Sacramento State won at 900. Baile Winslow led the way for UNC individually, tying for 11th place.
Men’s Mountain West Conference Championship
April 21-23, 2017 (final) in Tucson, Ariz.
2. (out of 11 teams) Colorado State 283-280-284–847
8. Blake Cannon 70-70-71–211
8. Colton Yates 71-71-69–211
11. Jake Staiano 71-70-71–212
20. AJ Ott 71-72-73–216
20. Max Oelfke 74-69-73–216
7. Air Force Academy 296-286-289–871
6. Sunwoo Choi 72-68-70–210
22. Andy Germann 73-74-70–217
36. Joshua Wu 72-71-78–221
49. Dane Hankamer 79-73-76–228
52. Brenden Bone 80-77-73–230
Also
22. Coloradan Tanner Jenson, Utah State 69-73-75–217
38. Coloradan Glenn Workman, Wyoming 72-74-76–222
Women’s Big Sky Championship
April 21-23, 2017 (final) in Boulder City, Nev.
5. (out of 12 teams) Northern Colorado 311-302-309–922
11. Baile Winslow 77-75-78–230
18. Morgan Sahm 78-79-75–232
21. Marisa Hisaki 82-72-79–233
27. Christina Ferrreira 74-76-85–235
45. Kala Keltz 85-79-77–241
Also
34. Coloradan Delaney Elliott, Montana State 81-81-79–241
42. Coloradan Jaylee Tait, Montana State 81-88-74–243
Women’s Summit League Championship
April 23-25, 2017 in Nebraska City
1. (out of 9 teams) Denver 296
2. Jessica Carty 72
3. Sophie Newlove 74
4. Mariell Bruun 75
4. Lauren Whyte 75
4. Jessica Dreesbeimdieke 75
Note: Just prior to the tournament, DU seniors Jessica Carty and Mariell Bruun were named to the All-Summit League first team and junior teammate Lauren Whyte to the second team.
Women’s Big 12 Conference Championship
April 21-23, 2017 (final) in San Antonio, Texas
38. Coloradan Hannah Wood, Oklahoma 80-78-77–235
