Colorado University Athletics
Biwer has designs on continuing his record-setting freshman season.
Biwer Set For NCAA Midwest/Norman Regional
May 15, 2022 | Men's Golf
Freshman Representing Buffaloes in Postseason
NORMAN, Okla. — University of Colorado freshman golfer Justin Biwer arrived here Saturday in preparation to participate in the NCAA Midwest/Norman Regional, which runs Monday through Wednesday at the University of Oklahoma's Jimmie Austin Golf Club.
The true freshman is representing the Buffaloes as an individual in the NCAA regionals. He is the fourth-seeded individual out of 10 invited to Oklahoma and is the first Buff freshman to earn an individual berth since Rick Cramer in 1979.
The Jimmie Austin Golf Club is the site for one of six regionals across the country. The course features a 7,452-yard, par-72 configuration and is a Perry Maxwell design; it opened in 1951 and was renovated in 1996. It features rolling hills, native grasses and majestic Bur Oaks that blanket many fairways, though has limited water hazards. The four par-5 holes are monsters, a combined 2,407 yards at only 1,171 feet above sea level., so not overly birdie-friendly. The last time it hosted a regional in 2014, just 20 of the 75 players were under par (with only 25 of 225 rounds in the 60s).
"Justin's game is the kind of game that can do well at any course," CU head coach Roy Edwards said. "He does a good job of adjusting to whatever he needs to do and isn't intimidated by courses he hasn't played before. He relishes the challenge."
'The course is in great condition," Biwer said Sunday after his practice round. "There are a lot of spots where you need a well-positioned tee shot. Derek (assistant coach Tolan) and I discussed a lot of different tee shots we thought best fit each hole, ones we felt would give me the best opportunity to score. I feel really good going into this week and am really looking forward to performing on this type of stage."
Biwer has enjoyed one of the best freshman seasons in CU history and has set several records, most notably currently owning the best stroke average ever by a frosh – 70.61 – nearly two strokes better than the previous mark of 72.51 set by Jeremy Paul during the 2013-14 season. He also set frosh marks for subpar rounds (20), rounds of par or better (22) and rounds in the 60s (12), all of which rank third overall. He is also under par in eight of 10 tournaments, one shy of the school's overall mark but a freshman best, and had a ninth where he finished even par. His seven top 20 finishes also were the most by a CU rookie, besting Paul's six that '13-14 season.
Biwer owned the best stroke average of all Pac-12 freshmen, owned the most rounds in the 60s, subpar rounds and par or better scores and tied for the most top 20 finishes, the latter with Arizona State's Preston Summerhays, who won the conference's Freshman of the Year honor. He had a stroke average of 71.38 with nine rounds in the 60s, 12 subpar scores and 16 round of par or better; he topped Biwer in wins (1-0) and top 10 efforts (5-2), but matched his seven top 20 finishes. He is coming off a fifth-place finish in the Pac-12 Championships, made the conference's All-Freshman Team as well as earning second-team All-Pac-12 honors overall. He was also named CU's Male Freshman Athlete of the Year for all sports.
No. 1 ranked Oklahoma is the host of the event, which features nine of the top 50 teams in the nation competing and 16 of the top 100 individuals (Biwer is ranked 177th). The top five teams and one individual not on those five after the 54-hole meet will advance to the NCAA Finals later this month in Scottsdale, Ariz.
The true freshman is representing the Buffaloes as an individual in the NCAA regionals. He is the fourth-seeded individual out of 10 invited to Oklahoma and is the first Buff freshman to earn an individual berth since Rick Cramer in 1979.
The Jimmie Austin Golf Club is the site for one of six regionals across the country. The course features a 7,452-yard, par-72 configuration and is a Perry Maxwell design; it opened in 1951 and was renovated in 1996. It features rolling hills, native grasses and majestic Bur Oaks that blanket many fairways, though has limited water hazards. The four par-5 holes are monsters, a combined 2,407 yards at only 1,171 feet above sea level., so not overly birdie-friendly. The last time it hosted a regional in 2014, just 20 of the 75 players were under par (with only 25 of 225 rounds in the 60s).
"Justin's game is the kind of game that can do well at any course," CU head coach Roy Edwards said. "He does a good job of adjusting to whatever he needs to do and isn't intimidated by courses he hasn't played before. He relishes the challenge."
'The course is in great condition," Biwer said Sunday after his practice round. "There are a lot of spots where you need a well-positioned tee shot. Derek (assistant coach Tolan) and I discussed a lot of different tee shots we thought best fit each hole, ones we felt would give me the best opportunity to score. I feel really good going into this week and am really looking forward to performing on this type of stage."
Biwer has enjoyed one of the best freshman seasons in CU history and has set several records, most notably currently owning the best stroke average ever by a frosh – 70.61 – nearly two strokes better than the previous mark of 72.51 set by Jeremy Paul during the 2013-14 season. He also set frosh marks for subpar rounds (20), rounds of par or better (22) and rounds in the 60s (12), all of which rank third overall. He is also under par in eight of 10 tournaments, one shy of the school's overall mark but a freshman best, and had a ninth where he finished even par. His seven top 20 finishes also were the most by a CU rookie, besting Paul's six that '13-14 season.
Biwer owned the best stroke average of all Pac-12 freshmen, owned the most rounds in the 60s, subpar rounds and par or better scores and tied for the most top 20 finishes, the latter with Arizona State's Preston Summerhays, who won the conference's Freshman of the Year honor. He had a stroke average of 71.38 with nine rounds in the 60s, 12 subpar scores and 16 round of par or better; he topped Biwer in wins (1-0) and top 10 efforts (5-2), but matched his seven top 20 finishes. He is coming off a fifth-place finish in the Pac-12 Championships, made the conference's All-Freshman Team as well as earning second-team All-Pac-12 honors overall. He was also named CU's Male Freshman Athlete of the Year for all sports.
No. 1 ranked Oklahoma is the host of the event, which features nine of the top 50 teams in the nation competing and 16 of the top 100 individuals (Biwer is ranked 177th). The top five teams and one individual not on those five after the 54-hole meet will advance to the NCAA Finals later this month in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Golf
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