Colorado University Athletics
Golfers Lead Louisiana Classics
March 10, 2008 | Men's Golf
LAFAYETTE, La. -- The University of Colorado men's golf team overcame a poor start here Monday, regrouping over the final 27 holes of the day and wound up in the lead after two rounds of the 23rd Annual Louisiana Classics.
The Buffs used a 4-under 284 second round, the only team round of the tournament under par, to vault from sixth place into first with an overall score of 583. That leads Richmond (587), Southeast Louisiana (588), No. 55 SMU (589) and host Louisiana-Lafayette (591) heading into the final round.
All teams had to deal with rain, heavy at times, which slowed down the second round but never stopped play.
CU's second round effort was its second best round of the season, behind only a second round 274 (6-under) in last month's Hawai'i-Hilo Intercollegiate.
This is the 18th straight year the Buffaloes have participated in the Classics, and CU is in the hunt for its first win here. Colorado, ranked No. 74 nationally, has just three top five finishes in the meet, all fifth place efforts, including last winter. The Buffs are the third highest ranked team in the field, behind SMU and No. 51 Illinois.
Colorado had a balanced attack Monday, with two players tied for 12th and three others for 23rd at the end of the day, making CU the only school with all five performers in the top 25; no other team had all in the top 45.
Senior Jim Grady and sophomore Luke Symons posted 2-over 146 scorecards, with Symons' second round 2-under 70 the best CU individual round of the day on the 7,141-yard, par-72 Oakbourne Country Club course. He also led the field in a par-5 scoring, playing the eight holes to 4-under, or an average of 4.50.
Grady came up a bit short in his attempt to become the first golfer in school history to record four straight rounds in the 60s, as he carded a first round 75. He is one of four at Colorado to have put three consecutive sub-70 scorecards in the books.
"We got off to a real bad start in the morning, and after that, the guys just played real consistent and we had a lot of pars the last 27 holes and the birdies started to come," head coach Roy Edwards said.
Colorado led the 14-team field in birdies Monday with 14, was first in par-4 scoring and second in par-3 scoring.
"I was proud that the guys didn't allow the bad start affect them. We've been working about not letting bad things get to us, not dwelling on them and not to let a bad hole or two turn in to three or four. So being in the lead after the kind of start we had is a great reward and will be a solid reminder in the future that good things can come of a bad start.
"We hadn't played in over a month, so we had some nerves and anxiousness," he continued. "Maybe we weren't fully ready to go mentally at the start. But we came around."
"We're excited, this is where we want to be and expect to be," Edwards added. "We're looking forward to this. We've been in the final group three times this year, and have learned that you need to stay focused and worry about your own games. If we do that, we'll be fine."
Senior Michael Baird, junior Derek Tolan and freshman Michael Imperato all turned in 4-over 148 cards, with Tolan making the biggest improvement between rounds, opening with a 77 but rebounding with a 71.
"I just got off to a really bad start, but more than anything, my distance control was way off and that had a lot to do without playing in a tournament for four months," Tolan said. "We weren't able to practice very much, so I think all of us were a little off to begin with and it took a while to get comfortable."
"This is probably my favorite tournament," Tolan, who had eight birdies on the day, added. "I love the course, the people and the community are great, and the food is the best."
Richmond's Jordan Utley holds the individual lead, as he is atop the standings with a 4-under 140; he was tied for the lead after a first round 69 as well. SMU's Kelly Kraft is one back, with four others four off the pace.
The final 18 holes of the tournament are set for Tuesday morning.
BUFFALO INDIVIDUALS
T12. Jim Grady.................................... 75-71--146
T12. Luke Symons............................... 76-70--146
T23. Michael Baird.............................. 72-76--148
T23. Michael Imperato........................ 76-72--148
T23. Derek Tolan................................. 77-71--148
TOP 5 INDIVIDUALS
1. Jordan Utley, Richmond............... 69-71--140
2. Kelly Kraft, SMU........................... 73-68--141
3. Scott Kelly, Sam Houston............. 73-71--144
3. Ryan Robertson, La. Tech ........... 72-72--144
3. Matt Hoffman, Illinois................... 73-71--144
TEAM SCORES
1. COLORADO............................ 299-284--583
2. Richmond................................ 296-291--587
3. SE Louisiana............................ 295-293--588
4. SMU......................................... 297-292--589
5. Louisiana-Lafayette.................. 300-291--591
6. Illinois...................................... 300-292--592
6. Louisiana Tech........................ 296-296--592
8. Kansas..................................... 289-306--595
8. Sam Houston State.................. 302-293--595
10. North Texas............................. 300-296--596
11. Texas State.............................. 299-299--598
11. Missouri-Kansas City................ 301-297--598
13. Louisiana-Monroe.................... 305-304--609
14. Arkansas State......................... 304-313--617
