Colorado University Athletics
Esther Lee and Morten Toft Hansen both had memorable Septembers for the Buffaloes.
Buffaloes Sweep Pac-12 Golfer Of The Month Honors
September 30, 2016 | General, Men's Golf, Women's Golf
Monthly Honor A First For Both Programs In The Pac-12
BOULDER – University of Colorado's Morten Toft Hansen and Esther Lee swept Pac-12 Conference Men's and Women's Golfer of the Month honors for September the league office announced on Friday.
It was the first Golfer of the Month honor for both programs since joining the Pac-12 for the 2011-12 season. Jess Wallace was Colorado's last Player of the Month for the Big 12 Conference in March of 2011. Derek Tolan took the last men's monthly nod in September 2008.
Lee, the current No. 1 ranked golfer in the nation by GolfWeek, won medalist honors at the Branch Law Firm/New Mexico Invitational, Sept. 12-13, on the strength of a first-round, 11-under par 61, setting a new NCAA record for most strokes under par in a round and tying the record of 61 set by Stanford's Maria Stackhouse.
Lee, a winner for a program-best third time in her career, claimed the title by five strokes on the par 72, 6,317-yard New Mexico Championship Golf Course. Her win is tied for the second largest margin of victory in CU history. A day after her 61, she continued her dominance, shooting 4-under par in the final round to secure the victory. In total, the Los Alamitos, Calif. native recorded 30 pars, 21 birdies and just three bogeys at the event. Her 21 birdies marks a program record in a single tournament, topping the previous record of 18 set by Emily Childs (2008).
Lee tallied a program record 11 total birdies during her record round of 61 along with seven pars against zero bogeys. She shot 4-under on the front side and posted a school record 7-under par, 29 on the back nine holes. The third-year Buff's 61 in the first round tied Stanford alumna Mariah Stackhouse's 2013 NCAA scoring record and her 11-under par performance set an NCAA record in relation to par. Stackhouse went 10-under with her 61 on a par 71.
Hansen, a freshman from Gilleleje, Denmark, had one of the best first months as a collegian in CU's golfing history, with four top 10 finishes that included two in the top five. He opened his career with a third place finish in CU's own Ballyneal Challenge in Holyoke, on Sept. 6, firing a 71-69—140, a great effort on a tough gold course. He then tied for 10th at the Air Force Invitational (70-74-70—218), Sept. 10-11, helping the Buffs to a third place team finish.
He tied for sixth at New Mexico's Tucker Invitational, Sept. 23-24, the highest-ever finish for a freshman by a Buffalo in the 62-year history of one of the west's oldest tournaments. In the sometime windy conditions over the three rounds, he turned in a 73-73-69—215 (1-under) scorecard, as he was one of just seven players to best par for the tournament. Three days later, he led the Buffs to the team win in CU's Mark Simpson Invitational, tying for fourth place with a 71-65-73—209 score (7-under); his second round 65 tied CU's mark for the best score ever recorded by a freshman. He had 41 pars and 10 with just three bogeys in leading the 108-man field in par-4 scoring.
Colorado's men's team continues the fall season Oct. 10-11 at the University of Denver's Paintbrush Intercollegiate. The women's team returns to action at the Stanford Fall Invitational, Oct. 14-16.
It was the first Golfer of the Month honor for both programs since joining the Pac-12 for the 2011-12 season. Jess Wallace was Colorado's last Player of the Month for the Big 12 Conference in March of 2011. Derek Tolan took the last men's monthly nod in September 2008.
Lee, the current No. 1 ranked golfer in the nation by GolfWeek, won medalist honors at the Branch Law Firm/New Mexico Invitational, Sept. 12-13, on the strength of a first-round, 11-under par 61, setting a new NCAA record for most strokes under par in a round and tying the record of 61 set by Stanford's Maria Stackhouse.
Lee, a winner for a program-best third time in her career, claimed the title by five strokes on the par 72, 6,317-yard New Mexico Championship Golf Course. Her win is tied for the second largest margin of victory in CU history. A day after her 61, she continued her dominance, shooting 4-under par in the final round to secure the victory. In total, the Los Alamitos, Calif. native recorded 30 pars, 21 birdies and just three bogeys at the event. Her 21 birdies marks a program record in a single tournament, topping the previous record of 18 set by Emily Childs (2008).
Lee tallied a program record 11 total birdies during her record round of 61 along with seven pars against zero bogeys. She shot 4-under on the front side and posted a school record 7-under par, 29 on the back nine holes. The third-year Buff's 61 in the first round tied Stanford alumna Mariah Stackhouse's 2013 NCAA scoring record and her 11-under par performance set an NCAA record in relation to par. Stackhouse went 10-under with her 61 on a par 71.
Hansen, a freshman from Gilleleje, Denmark, had one of the best first months as a collegian in CU's golfing history, with four top 10 finishes that included two in the top five. He opened his career with a third place finish in CU's own Ballyneal Challenge in Holyoke, on Sept. 6, firing a 71-69—140, a great effort on a tough gold course. He then tied for 10th at the Air Force Invitational (70-74-70—218), Sept. 10-11, helping the Buffs to a third place team finish.
He tied for sixth at New Mexico's Tucker Invitational, Sept. 23-24, the highest-ever finish for a freshman by a Buffalo in the 62-year history of one of the west's oldest tournaments. In the sometime windy conditions over the three rounds, he turned in a 73-73-69—215 (1-under) scorecard, as he was one of just seven players to best par for the tournament. Three days later, he led the Buffs to the team win in CU's Mark Simpson Invitational, tying for fourth place with a 71-65-73—209 score (7-under); his second round 65 tied CU's mark for the best score ever recorded by a freshman. He had 41 pars and 10 with just three bogeys in leading the 108-man field in par-4 scoring.
Colorado's men's team continues the fall season Oct. 10-11 at the University of Denver's Paintbrush Intercollegiate. The women's team returns to action at the Stanford Fall Invitational, Oct. 14-16.
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Golf
/ Women's Golf
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