Wyndham Clark of Highlands Ranch, the Pac-12 Conference Player of the Year and the top-ranked men’s college golfer in the nation, made five birdies, shot an even-par 72 and shares 11th place after Monday’s opening round of the Men’s NCAA Division I Regional in Baton Rouge, La.
The University of Oregon senior, the 2010 CGA Amateur champion who won the individual Pac-12 Championship at Boulder Country Club on April 30, uncharacteristically played the par-5s in 2 over par on Monday, recording a 7 and a 6 in the process. But his five birdies, including one on the final hole, got him back to even par.
The Coloradan (pictured) trails leader Sam Burns of host LSU by seven strokes heading into round 2 of the 54-hole tournament. The top five team finishers and the top individual not on those teams will advance to the NCAA Finals, set for May 26-31 in Sugar Grove, Ill. Clark’s Oregon squad sits in third place in the team standings.
Meanwhile, at the West Lafayette, Ind., Regional, the University of Colorado struggled to an 11th-place standing in the 13-team field. The Buffs, the only Colorado-based team to earn a berth in the Division I Regionals, shot a 16-over-par 304 and trail leader UNLV by 17 strokes. CU is 12 strokes behind the crucial fifth-place spot.
Yannik Paul and John Souza led the Buffs individually, sharing 37th place at 75.
And in the Austin, Texas Regional, two former Valor Christian High School teammates, Jake Staiano of Colorado State and Josh Seiple of Mississippi, are tied for 24th place individually at 73. Seiple’s Ole Miss team is second in the team race. Scottie Scheffler of Texas leads the regional individually at 66.
MEN’S NCAA DIV. I REGIONALS
May 15-17, 2017 in West Lafayette, Ind.
11. (out of 13 teams) Colorado 304
37. Yannik Paul 75
37. John Souza 75
53. Ethan Freeman 77
53. Victor Bjorlow 77
60. Spencer Painton 78
May 15-17, 2017 in Baton Rouge, La.
11. Coloradan Wyndham Clark, Oregon 72
May 15-17, 2017 in Austin Texas
24. Jake Staiano, Colorado State 73
24. Coloradan Josh Seiple, Mississippi 73
