Golfers Finish 11th At St. Mary's Invitational

Monday, September 10

Monterey, Calif

TBA

Colorado

All Rounds

September 11, 2007 | Men's Golf

By: David Plati, Associate AD/Sports Information

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. ? The University of Colorado men's golf team couldn't master the par fives here these past two days, and as a result, finished 11th in the St. Mary's Invitational Tuesday, the Buffaloes' first competition of the 2007-08 season.

The Buffs struggled to make par on many holes, especially the four par five layouts, and in the end cost CU enough strokes where it may have meant the difference between a podium finish (top three) and where the Buffs placed, in the second half of the 18-team field.

Baylor owned a four-stroke lead heading into the final round and made it hold up, as the Bears won with a 14-over par 878 team score, outdistancing Alabama-Birmingham (882), host St. Mary's and Texas-Arlington (883) and Eastern Michigan (884). Colorado was 12 strokes back after the first round and never could make a move on the leaders.

Senior Michael Baird paced the Buffaloes as he turned in 5-over scorecard with a 221 total, which included a final round 73, CU's low round of the day. He tied for 15th in the individual standings, moving up at the end as he eagled his final hole.

“Michael did a good job of hanging in there, he was very consistent even though he didn't have his best game out there this tournament,” CU head coach Roy Edwards said. “If you're of the right mindset, you can manage your game for a good score even if you're not in the so-called zone.”

True freshman Michael Imperato shined out of the gate, as he logged an 8-over 224 (74 Tuesday) on the 6,857-yard, par-72 Poppy Hills Golf Course, tying him for 31st overall. It was one of the top 10 tournaments by a freshman in his first meet in school history.

“I was also really happy with Michael Imperato's first tournament,” Edwards said. “He had pretty good poise for a true freshman playing at Pebble Beach, he stayed in control and played to his capabilities.”

CU's other senior, Jim Grady, slipped a bit Tuesday after firing an 80, as he finished with an 11-over 227 to tie for 41st. Rounding out the Colorado quintet were junior Derek Tolan (74 for a 232 total, tied for 69th) and sophomore Justin Bargett (81?236, tied for 79th).

Baylor's Wesley Williams claimed medalist honors, as he shot a 1-over 73 for a 214 score for three rounds; that 2-under par effort for 54 holes was good for a one shot win over Memphis' Ian Rochester.

“But as a team, we have to get better within 100 yards, we had what seemed like tons of bogeys, especially on the par 5s,” Edwards added. “We couldn't just hit it on the green and then two-putt. We easily lost 20 strokes that way. I'm not talking getting it up and down from 100 yards. I'm talking about just hitting it on and two-putting. We have a lot of short game work ahead of us.”

That short game work will either have to improve in a practice round Thursday or will have to wait as the Buffs return home from the Monterrey Peninsula and will turn right around and depart for Albuquerque and the New Mexico Tucker Invitational, set for this Friday and Saturday. It will essentially be the same lineup for the Buffs, with one change: sophomore Luke Symons will replace Bardgett as the o. 5 player for the meet.

BUFFALO INDIVIDUALS

T15. Michael Baird............................ 74-74-73?221

T31. Michael Imperato...................... 76-74-74?224

T41. Jim Grady................................. 77-70-80?227

T69. Derek Tolan.............................. 75-83-74?232

T79. Justin Bardgett.......................... 75-80-81?236

TOP 5 INDIVIDUALS

1. Wesley Williams, Baylor............ 71-70-73?214

2. Ian Rochester, Memphis............. 74-71-70?215

3. Graham Hill, Eastern Michigan... 70-75-71?216

3. Chadd Cocco, St. Mary's............. 74-73-69?216

3. Brad Smith, UAB......................... 72-69-75?216