Colorado University Athletics
Golfers In Fourth At Western Intercollegiate
March 26, 2008 | Men's Golf
SANTA CRUZ, Calif. -- The fours were wild Wednesday for the University of Colorado men's golf team, as the Buffaloes are in fourth place through two rounds of the Western Intercollegiate.
No. 22 Michigan State posted the two best team scores of the day, a 4-over par 284 in the morning and one better in the afternoon for a 7-over 567 total overall. The Spartans enjoy a 14-shot lead over St. Mary's (Calif.), the first school among the next seven in the standings that are separated by just 11 strokes. No. 52 California is third (585) and the Buffaloes, ranked No. 69, hold fourth with a 586 score (26-over par).
This is CU's first appearance here since winning the event in 2004. The Buffs are coming off a victory in the Louisiana Classics earlier this month and had hopes of back-to-back tournament wins for the first time in their history, but at 19 strokes out of the lead, that possibility is slim entering the final round.
Junior Derek Tolan stood in a tie for fourth place individually to lead the Buffaloes, as he recorded a 3-under par 67 in the second round to close the day with a 2-over total of 142.
The 67 was Tolan's best collegiate score, topping a 68 he posted in the New Mexico Tucker Invitational last September. It was one of just nine rounds below par recorded on Wednesday and tied for the best in the afternoon.
Tolan also had one of just 10 eagles Wednesday on the 6,511-yard, par-70 Pasatiempo Golf Club course, but scored the unique of the bunch as he holed out his approach shot on No. 4, a 378-yard, par-4 that only saw 26 birdies in two rounds. He was about 90 yards shy of the pin and he used a controlled wedge that landed in front of the hole, took a couple bounces and rolled right in.
Play was slow and it took five-and-a-half hours to complete the first round. The second round was completed a shade quicker, but it was still nearly an 11-hour day for the 16 teams and 90 competitors.
Joining Symons is freshman Michael Imperato, who bounced back from an opening 76 with a 71 to also record a 147 score. He was four over par after seven holes, but settled down and finished the day with the second most pars, 26, in the field.
Senior Michael Baird is tied for 45th, as he struggled with a second round 79 following a morning 73 for a 152 total. He did a reasonably good job of hanging in there after playing the first eight holes in the afternoon at 6-over.
Senior Jim Grady put a 76-77--153 scorecard (13-over) in the books to tie for 51st, rounding out the CU action. He was largely undone by three double bogeys and a triple on a par-3, otherwise playing the other 32 holes at just 4-over.
"We did a good job of hanging in there in the afternoon," head coach Roy Edwards said. It got really windy out of the north in the afternoon, then it got cold. But it was still a treat as this is one of the best courses a college player will ever play and one of the best a college tournament is played on. It is an amazing golf course and the guys just love it.
"Derek played great, it was some of the best golf I've ever seen him play," Edwards added. "Michael (Imperato) also did a great job of rallying in the afternoon and I was proud of him."
"We're excited about tomorrow, and feel we're in a good position to move up," he continued. "Michigan State is playing like the top 25 team they are, but we have to stay focused because anything can happen."
St. Mary's Mike McRae owns a one-shot lead over Michigan State's Jack Newman, as they were he the only players to break par both in both rounds. McRae is in at 5-under 135 through 36 holes, with his first round 66 one of the two best in the meet.
The final round of the tournament is scheduled for Thursday morning.
BUFFALO INDIVIDUALS
T 4. Derek Tolan................................. 75-67--142
T17. Michael Imperato........................ 76-71--147
T17. Luke Symons............................... 70-77--147
T45. Michael Baird.............................. 73-79--152
T51. Jim Grady.................................... 76-77--153
TOP 5 INDIVIDUALS
1. Mike McRae, St. Mary's................... 66-69--135
2. Jack Newman, Michigan State....... 69-67--136
3. Payne Gniewek, Michigan State..... 72-69--141
4. Derek Tolan, Colorado....... 75-67--142
4. Chase Cooper, Nevada.................... 71-71--142
TEAM SCORES
1. Michigan State......................... 284-283--567
2. St. Mary's (Calif.)..................... 289-292--581
3. California................................. 296-289--585
4. COLORADO.................. 294-292--586
5. UC-Irvine.................................. 298-289--587
6. Northwestern........................... 294-294--588
7. UC-Santa Barbara.................... 293-298--591
8. Nevada.................................... 297-295--592
9. Texas Tech.............................. 298-297--595
10. San Jose State.......................... 292-313--605
11. Santa Clara.............................. 306-300--606
11. Missouri................................... 302-304--606
13. Long Beach State..................... 308-303--611
14. Hawai'i.................................... 302-310--612
15. Fresno State............................. 298-319--617
16. Columbia................................. 312-308--620
