Colorado University Athletics
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GOLFERS FINISH FOURTH AT NOTRE DAME
September 19, 2004 | Men's Golf
SOUTH BEND, Ind. ? The University of Colorado men's golf team slipped a couple of spots but still posted its best season opening finish in recent memory as the Buffaloes finished fourth here Sunday in the Notre Dame Invitational/NCAA Central Regional Preview.
Kent State led from wire-to-wire, as the Golden Flashes held off a final round charge from Michigan State in posting an 881 team score to win by two strokes over the Spartans. Kent went into the final round with an 11-stroke lead over CU, but the Buffs would finish fourth with an 889 total, as MSU shot the best round of the tournament (1-over 281) to close at 883, with Big 12 Conference rival Texas Tech sneaking ahead of Colorado to grab third with an 888 score.
The 15-team field in this tournament was entirely comprised of teams located in the NCAA's Central Region, as the Fighting Irish will host next May's Central Regional on the same course.
It was the first top five finish to open the season for the Buffs since 1999, when they placed fifth out of 11 at the Nebraska Fairway Club Invitational, and was the best out of the gate since 1991, matching a fourth place effort in their own CU-Fox Acres Invitational.
Colorado was led by junior Edward McGlasson, as he closed with an even par 70 to finish with a 10-over 220 total which tied him for 12th place. His effort was one of just 12 par or better rounds Sunday on the 7,011-yard, par-70 Warren Golf Course layout, the site of the last two rounds in this meet as well as next May's regional. Friday's first round was played in Bridgman, Mich., at Lost Dunes Golf Club on the southeastern shores of Lake Michigan. Another junior, Kenny Coakley, also posted a top 20 finish as he tied for 14th with a final round 74 for a 221 total.
True freshman Shea Sena posted a solid first collegiate effort, as the Montezuma-Cortez High School product tied for 23rd with a 224 total after firing a 76 in the final round. He was in position for a top 10 finish, but struggled down the stretch as he closed bogey, double bogey and double bogey as he was just 1-over through 15. Another first-year player, redshirt freshman Jim Grady, and junior Blake Moore rounded out action for CU, as both shot final round 78s to finish tied for 42nd and 50th, respectively.
Kent State's Ryan Yip carded a final round 69 to win medalist honors with a 1-under 209 total, easily winning by five shots over Indiana's Jeff Overton and Michigan State's Andrew Ruthkoski.
“We basically got off to a slow start, and then just maintained instead of really getting things going,” CU head coach Mark Simpson said. “But all in all, for coming out of the chute and playing two very tough golf courses, I'm very satisfied because we did pretty well. We did some good things here, but we also know we have a long way to go until next spring. But the initial indications are that I think we're going to be solid from top to bottom, and I'm looking forward to a pretty good year.” The first sign of that was the fact that Colorado, Kent State and Michigan State were the only three schools in the field to have all five of their players finish in the top 50, while the Buffs were one of six to place three in the top 25.
“I really like the freshmen a lot,” Simpson added. “I liked their demeanor, their approach, their reactions when things didn't go well. They're really mature for freshmen. Otherwise, we need to get Blake going, because he's a stalwart for us, and he's not happy with two of his three rounds here; but he'll respond.”
The Buffs return to action in two weeks at the William H. Tucker Invitational in Albuquerque, N.M.
Buffalo Individuals
T12. Edward McGlasson.... 72-78-70-?220
T14. Kenny Coakley....... 74-73-74-?221
T23. Shea Sena........... 76-72-76-?224
T42. Jim Grady........... 76-76-78-?230
T50. Blake Moore......... 82-72-78-?232
Team Scores
1. Kent State........ 287-293-291-?871
2. Michigan State.... 294-298-281-?873
3. Texas Tech........ 296-297-295-?888
4. COLORADO.......... 298-293-298-?889
5. Indiana........... 304-294-292-?890
6. Notre Dame........ 299-299-294-?892
7. Xavier............ 306-294-296-?896
7. Texas A & M....... 303-298-295-?896
9. Northwestern...... 309-300-298-?907
10. Arkansas.......... 305-312-291-?908
11. Tulsa............. 311-301-297-?909
12. SMU............... 321-291-299-?911
13. Missouri.......... 310-301-307-?918
14. Toledo............ 311-312-302-?925
15. Iowa State........ 310-309-312-?931
