Colorado University Athletics
Golfers Lead CU-Stevinson Invitational
April 06, 2009 | Men's Golf
STEVINSON, Calif. -- The University of Colorado men's golf team recorded its best 36-hole start in the history of its own CU-Stevinson Ranch Invitational here Monday, largely due to the performance of its two senior standouts, and as a result the Buffaloes take a one stroke lead into Tuesday's final round.
Colorado, ranked No. 43 in this week's Golfweek ratings, leads a tightly-packed from of the field by a single stroke. The Buffs were tied for second after the morning round and used a 1-under team score the second time around the course to finish the day up with a 3-over par 579 score. That's good for a 1-stroke lead over No. 77 Washington State and No. 78 Nevada, both of whom posted the day's best single round score (4-under 284s) in the afternoon to close at 580. St. Mary's is within striking distance at 582, with first round leader Loyola Marymount rounding out the top five at 584.
The conditions were as good as can be Monday, with calm winds, sunny skies and temperatures in the 60s warming to the mid-70s. The average score for the competing golfers in both rounds was 75.2; only once has that figure been below 75 in the 10-year history of the tournament; 22 players shot par or better in the first two rounds compared to 14 last year in a stronger overall field.
"We're certainly excited to be in the lead," head coach Roy Edwards said. "One of our top goals every year is to win our own tournament, and we're in position to do that. We really didn't play our best but still managed to shoot our best 36-hole score ever in this event, and some of that has to do with the incredible weather. We talked about how you have to manage your way around this course, and there are birdies to be made out there, but at the same time, things can get away from you fast."
Senior Patrick Grady owns a three-stroke lead through 36 holes, as he posted a 69-68--137 scorecard on the 7,142-yard, par-72 Stevinson Ranch Golf Club course layout. Grady's first round was steady, with five birdies and 11 pars, his only two bogeys coming late in the round though he immediately came back with a birdie on the par-3 No. 12 to counter one of them. He topped that effort the second time around the loop, with four birdies and 14 pars.
In the process, he tied and then set the school record for the most rounds in the 60s in a single season with his ninth and 10th such efforts for the 2008-09 season Monday, matching and then breaking Kane Webber's record that he set in 2003-04.
"I am proud of the way Pat played today," Edwards said. "He cracked his driver in Sunday's practice round and had to use a replacement club today. He was solid, real consistent. He's been working on being more consistent emotionally, and he did a great job today because it showed in his results."
Grady is the first Buffalo in the 11 years of the tournament to own the lead heading into the final day. The lone Buff to win in the first decade of the event was Ben Portie, who used a final round 66 to rally from five down to win by three. Nevda's Ryan Hallisey (71-69--140) is Grady's closest pursuer, with Loyola Marymount's Greg Moss five back at 142.
Senior Derek Tolan, who is also chasing the 60s mark for a season and career, had a pair of even-par 72s on the day, with his 144 total tying for sixth overall. He recorded seven birdies, 22 pars and seven bogeys for the two rounds. He was 3-over after just five holes, but settled down quick and got back to even when he closed with two birdies down the stretch in his morning round.
"Derek continues to be solid, and we expect a really good round of him Tuesday," Edwards noted of his team's stroke average leader. "He's still very much in the hunt (for medalist honors) as he can get hot at any time."
Junior Luke Symons scored a 75 in the first round, posting a team-best 13 pars, and then came back with a 71 for a 146 total to stand tied for 17th. He had two birdies to counter two bogeys, his undoing being a triple on the tough par-4 No. 9 in the first round, and then hopped on the rollercoaster for a bit in the afternoon with five birdies, nine pars and four bogeys.
Junior Justin Bardgett was 4-over after six holes but then played even the remainder of his first round en route to a 76; with three birdies, three bogeys and two doubles, it was still a bit of a rollercoaster ride as well. He shot a 77 in the afternoon, his 153 total tying him for 57th overall. He had 13 pars the second time around, along with a birdie, but a triple bogey and three single ones put him on the wrong side of par to close the day.
Freshman Kevin Kring had one rough stretch in the morning where he bogeyed four out of file holes, leading to a 5-over 77 for his first-ever round at Stevinson. He shaved a stroke off that with a follow-up 76, thus is also tied for 57th with a 153 score. He had 15 pars in the second round to give him 26 on the day, second most on the team.
Four Buffaloes are playing here as individuals, enough to comprise an informal "B" to see where they can finish in the overall standings and match up to CU's scoring quintet. They combined for 613 total, but of course don't have the advantage of a fifth man; Edwards said an imaginary fifth man would have a 75 each round, thus lowered the fictional total to 606.
Sophomore Michael Imperato posted the best first round score on the "B" designates, opening with a fairly smooth 2-over 74 that featured two birdies, 12 pars and four bogeys, two of which came at the start and finish of his round. He had a 78 the second round, the highlight come on the short par-4 No. 8 hole where after he drove a sand trap 40 yards shy of the green, he holed out his second shot for an eagle. He didn't see it roll in; he was raking the trap when it climbed on the green and then into the cup.
Redshirt freshman Sebastian Heisele had a 77 for the morning round, shooting even on the back side after playing the front nine at 5-over; both his a.m. birdies came on the back. He had 75 the second time for a 152 total, tying him for 51st with Imperato. Heisele's five birdies Monday ranked fourth among the nine Buffaloes here.
Senior Tom Gempel played in his first competition in nearly two years, which included a redshirt year in 2007-08. His "first round" back saw him record a 7-over 79, though he was really undone by a pair of triple bogeys; otherwise he had two birdies, 12 pars, one bogey and a double. He was a near model of consistency the second round, with 15 pars and three bogeys for a 75; his 27 pars were a team best Monday. He is tied for 65th with a 154 total.
Freshman Johnny Widmer also opened with a 77, with his round highlighted by a birdie and 12 pars, and a second round 78 put him at 155 to stand tied for 71st.
Colorado is trying for its second win in its own meet, and that victory in 2006 was a little tainted after the tournament was shortened to Monday's results after a thunderstorm moved into the Stevinson area with three holes remaining. At the time the tournament was called, CU had likely fallen into third place and out of reach of the win, but the rules called for throwing out the final round if not completed.
"Playing tomorrow with the lead will help us down the road," Edwards concluded. "We've got some good teams right on our heels, so we have to go out and play a solid round to hold them off."
The final round is set for an 8 a.m. (PST) shotgun start; temperatures are to be in the 50s and 60s, by mid-morning rain is expected to fall that will last the remainder of the day well into the evening.
BUFFALO INDIVIDUALS
1. Patrick Grady.................................. 69-68--137
T6. Derek Tolan.................................... 72-72--144
T17. Luke Symons.................................. 75-71--146
T51. *Michael Imperato.......................... 74-78--152
T51. *Sebastian Heisele......................... 77-75--152
T57. Kevin Kring..................................... 77-76--153
T57. Justin Bardgett................................ 76-77--153
T65. *Tom Gempel................................. 79-75--154
T71. *Johnny Widmer............................. 77-78--155
TOP INDIVIDUALS
1. Patrick Grady, Colorado.................. 69-68--137
2. Ryan Hallisey, Nevada...................... 71-69--140
3. Greg Moss, Loyola Marymount........... 72-70--142
4. Nick Ellis, Washington State............... 72-71--143
4. Trent Sanders. Washington State........ 71-72--143
6. Derek Tolan, Colorado.................... 72-72--144
TEAM SCORES
1. COLORADO............................... 292-287--579
2. Washington State........................ 296-284--580
2. Nevada...................................... 296-284--580
4. St. Mary's (Calif.)....................... 294-288--582
5. Loyola Marymount....................... 289-295--584
6. CSU-Stanislaus........................... 300-293--593
6. Sacramento State........................ 294-299--593
8. UMKC........................................ 304-292--596
9. Portland..................................... 299-299--598
10. Missouri..................................... 301-298--599
11. South Dakota State...................... 306-294--600
11. CSU-Bakersfield.......................... 303-297--600
11. Liberty....................................... 302-298--600
14. San Francisco............................. 298-303--601
15. Northern Colorado........................ 312-302--614
NR. Colorado "B".............................. 307-306--613
