Colorado University Athletics
Golfers Fifth In Own CU-Stevinson Invite
April 07, 2008 | Men's Golf
New Mexico State grabbed the early lead in the meet, as the Aggies posted a 4-over par 292 team score to lead San Francisco by two shots. No. 43 St. Mary's (Calif.), the top ranked team in the field, is third (295), followed by Washington State (298) and No. 68 Colorado (303).
Junior Derek Tolan paced Colorado in the first round with a 1-over 73, the second best score he has recorded on the 7,144-yard, par-72 Stevinson Golf Club layout. He had a second round 70 last year when he finished sixth individually; he stands fifth after the first 18 this year.
He had a steady round, opening with a birdie at No. 1, with two bogeys and seven pars over the next nine holes. He was back at 1-under for the round after scoring an eagle on the 515-yard, par-5 11th, one of just five eagles in the first round.
No other Buffalo could record better than a 4-over 76, which three players posted: senior Michael Baird, freshman Michael Imperato and sophomore Justin Bardgett, who is playing as an individual; his scores won't count toward CU's team total.
Senior Jim Grady (78), redshirt frosh Riley Andrews (79) and sophomore Luke Symons (80) rounded out the CU seven competing here; Andrews is also playing as an individual.
Collectively in the first round, CU mustered 16 birdies along with Tolan's eagle, and while not posting several large numbers on holes, bogeys kept the Buffs from gaining any kind of momentum. Imperato led the way with five birdies, while Andrews had three and Baird, Bardgett and Grady two each.
Stevinson has never been easy for this tournament, presenting of the toughest yet fairest challenges annually in college golf. Of the 710 players in the previous nine meets, only 39 bettered par with another 11 matching it through 54 holes. That won't appear to change after Monday's first round, as just two players were under par with two others equaling it. The average score was 77.5 for the 74-man field.
"We didn't play well this morning, but I sense we're off to a much better start this afternoon," head coach Roy Edwards said. "There are plenty of opportunities for birdies to be scored out there, and we have to take better advantage of that. We're only 11 of the lead, and if we post a few more red numbers, we'll be right there. We are not only in this to host a tournament on a great golf course, we're here to win."
A pair of New Mexico State golfers are in the lead, as senior Matt Edwards and sophomore Josh Stewart both recorded 1-under par 71 scores.
The second round is currently underway and should conclude around 7:15 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time. The third and final round is set for an 8 a.m. shotgun start Tuesday morning.
Tournament Notes
R Back-to-Back Eagles. CSU-Bakersfield's Mike Flynn, who started with a bogey on No. 10, bounced right back as strong as ever--with back-to-back eagles. He scored a three on the par-5, 515-yard 11th, and then aced the 159-yard, par-3 12th. It was the fourth hole-in-one in tournament history, the second at No. 12. He then birdied No. 14 to go to 4-under, but came back down to Earth and shot a 78 (36-42).
R Loyola-Marymount's Greg Moss opened the meet with a 10 on the par-5 No. 1 hole, but rallied with three birdies to shoot 39 on the front (he had a 79 for the first round).
R E.J. Kahn moved into San Francisco's No 1 slot when Conor McElyea withdrew due to illness; the Dons' Chris Cunningham had four straight birdies (14, 15, 16, 17) in his first round 72.
R Stevinson has never been easy for this tournament, presenting of the toughest yet fairest challenges annually in college golf. Of the 710 players in the previous nine meets, only 39 bettered par with another 11 matching it through 54 holes. That won't appear to change after Monday's first round, as just two players were under par with two others equaling it.
BUFFALO INDIVIDUALS
T 5. Derek Tolan................................. 37-36--73
T24. Michael Baird.............................. 40-36--76
T24. Michael Imperato........................ 37-39--76
T24. *Justin Bardgett........................... 38-38--76
T36. Jim Grady.................................... 40-38--78
T51. *Riley Andrews........................... 42-37--79
T54. Luke Symons............................... 39-41--80
(*--playing as an individual; scores do not count toward CU total.)
TEAM SCORES
1. New Mexico State................... 292
2. San Francisco.......................... 294
3. St. Mary's (Calif.)..................... 295
4. Washington State..................... 298
5. COLORADO.................... 303
6. Missouri-Kansas City................ 304
7. CSU-Bakersfield...................... 305
7. Loyola-Marymount................... 305
7. Pacific...................................... 305
10. Oklahoma City......................... 306
11. Drake....................................... 315
12. Akron....................................... 318
13. Northern Illinois....................... 319
14. Gonzaga................................... 320
