Colorado University Athletics
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Golfers Tie For Second At Western Intercollegiate
March 31, 2009 | Men's Golf
SANTA CRUZ, Calif. ? The University of Colorado men's golf team started slow but finished strong in posting a second place tie here Tuesday in the 63rd Annual Western Intercollegiate.
No. 55 Oregon used the best round of the day and second in the tournament to claim the team victory, as the Ducks finished with an 865 team score (25-over par), an impressive accomplishment playing with four freshmen and a sophomore.
Colorado's final round score of 288 tied for the third best for the day and fifth overall for the tournament, with the Buffs bouncing back from a disappointing second round (302), unable to capitalize on high scores all around to perhaps take over the lead. Still, it matched CU's second best result of the season, a runner-up effort that opened the year back in September at the USF Olympic Club Invitational.
The Buffs again struggled early, collectively playing 11-over par the first three holes; only Tolan was immune, as he birdied the tough par-4 No. 1, just the 15th player to do so this week in almost 300 tries. All five Buffs were a combined 17-over on the front nine, but played the back at 1-over.
“We got off to another bad start, and were fighting for awhile,” head coach Roy Edwards said. “I'm not sure how close we ever were to first, but I know at one point after the start we were as low as fifth. If you get down, it's tough out here, but we were able to put it behind us and play well down the stretch. We did that in both the second and third rounds and we're proud of that.
“Our guys are generally a pretty resilient group, and we talked repeatedly about being patient and they really bought into that,” he added. “It's real easy to struggle out here and throw in the towel, but our guys remained focused and I think that showed with being rewarded with a runner-up finish. Overall, I believe we're getting better and progressing. This was a great preparation for the rest of the year, not only this course, but all the courses we play.”
CU head coach Roy Edwards (left) and his Buffaloes accept the second place trophy at the Western Intercollegiate.
Senior Derek Tolan led the Buffaloes here, tying for second overall, as he matched his season-best score with a 67 to finish with a 3-over 213 score on the 6, 511-yard, par-70 Pasatiempo Golf Club course. He had five birdies and one double bogey, otherwise scored pars on the remaining 12 holes. He led the field with 39 total pars for the three-round event, and his 67 tied for the low score for the final round and was one of just three under par. Tolan opened with a 69 and was the only player in the 93-man field to record two rounds under par.
“This course set up good for me,” Tolan said. “It's such a mental grind, you really have to think your way around it and you can't let your guard down. If you manage to do that, then you can make birdies. There are a lot of holes out here where you feel like you made birdie when you made a par, a lot more here than at other courses. It's a combination of things, there are tough shots, but they come with tough decisions. Do you want a 40-footer uphill or a three-footer downhill? You have to commit to your decision and trust it.”
Tolan was kicking himself on his double, which came on the 502-yard, par-5 ninth hole, one of the easiest holes, relatively speaking, at Pasatiempo this week. “I picked the wrong to time hit a bad shot. That's all it was, and out here, that'll cost you. It sure did me.” He still moved into third in all-time top 10 finishes at Colorado with 16, as well as into fourth in top 20 finishes with 23.
Oregon State's Diego Velasquez followed up a blistering second round 66 with an even-par 70 to claim medalist honors, finishing with an even-par 210 total for the tournament to defeat Tolan and Michigan State's Jack Newman by three shots.
Senior Patrick Grady tied for sixth after finishing off with a 4-over 74 for a 215 total. He entered the day one shot out of the lead, but after opening with two bogeys and a double in his first five holes, he basically dropped out of contention for medalist honors. But despite the bad start, he rebounded to play even the remainder of the round, with an eagle and three birdies, with his top 10 finish the 10th of his career, tying him for ninth all-time at Colorado.
Junior Luke Symons closed with a 3-over 73 and a 224 total, which tied him for 25th overall. After opening with a double and a bogey, he settled down fast and played the course even over his final 16 holes. He led the Buffs with 10 birdies this week, a number that tied for fifth-most in the 93-man field.
Freshman Johnny Widmer rounded out the action for the Buffaloes with a second straight 6-over 78, which put him a 233 overall to tie for 58th. He played better than his final round score indicated, but the freshman's undoing was not one, or two, but three double bogeys on par-3 holes.
Colorado was trying for its second win here, having previously won the Western in 2004 when senior Kane Webber led the Buffs to the title by claiming medalist honors. It was CU's second best finish in the six times it has participated in the prestigious tournament, one of the oldest college events west of the Mississippi.
The Buffs finally return home after 11 days on the west coast for three days before venturing back out to central California for their own CU-Stevinson Ranch Invitational next Monday and Tuesday. It's the final tune-up ahead of next month's Big 12 Championships.
T2. Derek Tolan.................................... 69-77-67?213
T6. Patrick Grady.................................. 68-73-74?215
T15. Kevin Kring..................................... 74-74-74?222
T25. Luke Symons.................................. 72-79-73?224
T58. Johnny Widmer................................ 77-78-78?233
1. Diego Velasquez, Oregon State.......... 74-66-70?210
2. Derek Tolan, Colorado.................. 67-77-69?213
2. Jack Newman, Michigan State.......... 73-71-69?213
4. Andrew Vijarro, Oregon..................... 71-72-71?214
4. Bhavik Patel, Fresno State............... 68-76-70?214
TEAM SCORES
1. Oregon....................................... 290-293-282?865
2. COLORADO............................... 283-302-288?873
2. Fresno State............................... 278-301-294?873
4. Michigan State............................ 290-297-287?874
5. California................................... 293-304-288?885
6. Oregon State............................... 306-292-290?888
7. Denver....................................... 294-295-304?893
8. Pacific....................................... 294-307-307?908
10. UC-Santa Barbara........................ 294-311-305?910
11. Mercer....................................... 291-311-309?911
12. San Jose State............................ 301-310-302?913
13. St. Mary's.................................. 298-315-301?914
14. Nevada...................................... 295-310-310?915
15. Wyoming.................................... 303-319-307?929
16. Kansas....................................... 307-319-304?930
17. Santa Clara................................. 320-321-316?957
18. Brown........................................ 314-328-319?961
