Colorado University Athletics
Golfers In Seventh At Pepperdine's Club Glove
October 23, 2006 | Men's Golf
SOMIS, Calif. - The University of Colorado men's golf team stands in seventh place after two rounds here Monday of the 8th Annual Pepperdine Club Glove Intercollegiate, the Buffaloes final tournament of the fall portion of its schedule.
A challenging course helped inflate the scores of the entire 62-man field, as the best score recorded was a 2-under par 70 in the morning round, with just four subpar rounds, six even par scores and 47 scores of 80 or higher posted on the day.
No. 10 Lamar assumed the 36-hole lead with a 594 team score, which is 18-over par, good for a two-shot advantage over No. 16 Louisville. Colorado, ranked No. 44 by Golfweek, was in ninth after first round but used the fifth best team tally the second time around the course to move into seventh; the Buffaloes have a 624 score, or 48-over par.
CU junior Michael Baird, who transferred to CU from Pepperdine this past June, returned to his old stomping grounds with a little something to prove. After struggling out of the chute, he settled down on his back nine and shot an 80 in the morning, but rebounded the second time around to post the afternoon's low round, a 1-under 71, on the 6,985-yard, par-72 Saticoy Country Club course. He is tied for 12th overall with a 151 total, just five strokes out of the lead.
"This course is really, really hard. It's difficult off the tee, it's difficult from the fairway, it's difficult on the greens," CU head coach Roy Edwards said. "For Lamar to be leading at 18-over is an exceptional score. We struggled out there all day.
"Michael did a great job of closing in his first round and then coming out and posting the best round in the afternoon. We didn't do a good job of staying in the present, not handling things well when we didn't hit it good. It's difficult, but it's beautiful, and it's a fun course to play because it's so challenging. I'd liken it to a tighter and longer Hiwan (Golf Club in Evergreen). This is a good test to end the fall season on. "
Junior Patrick Grady and freshman Luke Symons are tied for 31st individually, as the pair are in at 13-over (157) through two rounds. Sophomore Derek Tolan and senior Blake Moore are both tied for 46th with 162 (18-over) totals. All battled hard, but never could get much momentum going and bogeys added up quickly for the quintet.
Xavier's Jason Kokrak and Lamar's Oliver Bekker are tied for the lead through two rounds with 2-over par 146 scores, as Kokrak was the sole player to sniff the 60s with a morning 70. But the course came back and bit him, as he logged a 76 in the afternoon.
"We had a good meeting after the second round," Edwards added. "I think everyone will be focused on having a good final round (Tuesday) to leave things with a good taste in their mouths going into the off season."
The tournament concludes Tuesday morning, and then the Buffaloes will resume competition next February.
BUFFALO INDIVIDUALS
T12. Michael Baird............... 80-71--151
T31. Patrick Grady............... 80-77--157
T31. Luke Symons................. 78-79--157
T46. Derek Tolan................. 78-84--162
T46. Blake Moore................. 81-81--162
TOP FIVE INDIVIDUALS
T1. Jason Kokrak, Xavier......... 70-76--146
T1. Oliver Bekker, Lamar......... 71-75--146
T3. Charlie Beljan, New Mexico... 71-76--147
T3. Ricky Romano, Houston........ 72-75--147
5. Casey Clendenon, Lamar....... 74-74--148
TEAM SCORES
1. Lamar...................... 296-298--594
2. Louisville................. 289-307--596
3. Pepperdine................. 291-308--599
4. New Mexico................. 300-305--605
5. Houston.................... 309-301--610
6. Xavier..................... 301-314--615
7. COLORADO................... 316-308--624
8. Kent State................. 314-312--626
9. Southern Miss.............. 313-314--627
10. UC-Riverside............... 314-326--640
11. Kansas State............... 325-317--642
11. New Mexico State........... 326-316--642
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