Colorado University Athletics
Trevor Olkowski, Roy Edwards and Guy Sugden, VP of Troon Golf.
Olkowski Wins Saguaro Amateur
January 04, 2019 | Men's Golf
CU Sophomore's 8-Under Effort Good For A One-Stroke Win
MARICOPA, Ariz. — University of Colorado sophomore Trevor Olkowski held off a late charge and won the third annual Saguaro Amateur here Friday.
Olkowski, tied for seventh after the first round, took over the tournament lead with a second round 67 and claimed medalist honors after recording a 2-under 70 in the final round, closing with an 8-under 208 score on the 7,588-yard, par-72 Ak-Chin Southern Dunes golf course layout.
He dueled it out with University of New Mexico senior Sean Carlon, who trailed Olkowski by a stroke entering Friday's action. Carlon rallied to lead twice by a stroke on the front nine, but four birdies in a six-hole span by Olkowski put him ahead for good. He did have to sink just under a four-foot putt on No. 18 for a bogey after Carlon finished with a birdie. Olkowski navigated a difficult greenside bunker shot to safely allow two putts for the win.
"The win means a lot to me because it's a reflection of how hard I've worked and the effort I have put in," Olkowski said. "Hopefully I can carry this momentum into the college season as well.
"I played scrappy," he continued. "I had a lot of really good and bad shots but played to my strengths and played smart. I putted pretty well which allowed me to score the way I did as well as scramble when I needed to. Overall, it was a good few days and there was a lot I learned and can take going forward.
Colorado head coach Roy Edwards, who is a co-founder of the series *with Wyoming coach Joe Jensen) which is designed in part to provide an opportunity for collegiate golfers to have some competition between the fall and spring seasons, was especially proud of his sophomore's victory.
"The Saguaro Amateur win is a culmination of Trevor's continued development into an elite player," Edwards said. "He is a very hard worker who really understands how to play the game at a high level. He is a tremendous competitor and can adapt his game to whatever he is doing best in his game. This is a great win for him against a very competitive field."
Olkowski had won his first event as a collegian in September when he was the co-medalist in CU's own Mark Simpson Invitational. He was consistent here, scoring 16 birdies over the 54 holes (six in the second round, five in the other two) and 30 pars, with just eight bogeys.
With the win, he also was the 2018-19 Troon Saguaro Amateur Series Champion for his overall play in the three events, the Sizzler, Gobbler and Saguaro Amateurs.
Two other Buffaloes participated in the event; junior Andre Leveque tied for 44th (77-74-70—221, +5) and sophomore Cole Krantz placed 82nd (75-81-73—229, +13).
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
(109 competitors)
Olkowski, tied for seventh after the first round, took over the tournament lead with a second round 67 and claimed medalist honors after recording a 2-under 70 in the final round, closing with an 8-under 208 score on the 7,588-yard, par-72 Ak-Chin Southern Dunes golf course layout.
He dueled it out with University of New Mexico senior Sean Carlon, who trailed Olkowski by a stroke entering Friday's action. Carlon rallied to lead twice by a stroke on the front nine, but four birdies in a six-hole span by Olkowski put him ahead for good. He did have to sink just under a four-foot putt on No. 18 for a bogey after Carlon finished with a birdie. Olkowski navigated a difficult greenside bunker shot to safely allow two putts for the win.
"The win means a lot to me because it's a reflection of how hard I've worked and the effort I have put in," Olkowski said. "Hopefully I can carry this momentum into the college season as well.
"I played scrappy," he continued. "I had a lot of really good and bad shots but played to my strengths and played smart. I putted pretty well which allowed me to score the way I did as well as scramble when I needed to. Overall, it was a good few days and there was a lot I learned and can take going forward.
Colorado head coach Roy Edwards, who is a co-founder of the series *with Wyoming coach Joe Jensen) which is designed in part to provide an opportunity for collegiate golfers to have some competition between the fall and spring seasons, was especially proud of his sophomore's victory.
"The Saguaro Amateur win is a culmination of Trevor's continued development into an elite player," Edwards said. "He is a very hard worker who really understands how to play the game at a high level. He is a tremendous competitor and can adapt his game to whatever he is doing best in his game. This is a great win for him against a very competitive field."
Olkowski had won his first event as a collegian in September when he was the co-medalist in CU's own Mark Simpson Invitational. He was consistent here, scoring 16 birdies over the 54 holes (six in the second round, five in the other two) and 30 pars, with just eight bogeys.
With the win, he also was the 2018-19 Troon Saguaro Amateur Series Champion for his overall play in the three events, the Sizzler, Gobbler and Saguaro Amateurs.
Two other Buffaloes participated in the event; junior Andre Leveque tied for 44th (77-74-70—221, +5) and sophomore Cole Krantz placed 82nd (75-81-73—229, +13).
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
(109 competitors)
| 1. Trevor Olkowski, Grand Junction, Colo. | 71-67-70—208 |
| 2. Sean Carlon, Albuquerque, N.M. | 69-70-70—209 |
| 3. John Felitto, Mountainside, N.J. | 73-70-68—211 |
| 4. Tyler Severin, Johnstown, Colo. | 70-73-70—213 |
| 4. Sam Choi, Albuquerque, N.M. | 71-69-73—213 |
| 4. Koichiro Ishika, Tempe, Ariz. | 69-75-69—213 |
| 4. Jake Staiano, Englewood, Colo. | 73-69-71—213 |
| 4. Pryce Beshoory, Pearland, Texas | 71-71-71—213 |
Players Mentioned
Thursday, March 26
Tuesday, August 12
Tuesday, February 06
Tuesday, February 06