Colorado University Athletics
Spotlight on the 15th hole at UT Golf Club in Austin.
Biwer Ready For NCAA Central/Austin Regional
May 11, 2024 | Men's Golf
Several Buffs Attempt U.S. Open Qualifying
BOULDER —University of Colorado junior Justin Biwer is off to Austin, Texas to represent the Buffaloes in the NCAA Central/Austin Regional, which runs Monday through Wednesday. It will mark the third time he will compete in postseason play.
The competition is set for the University of Texas Golf Club, which will play to 7,399-yards and a par-71 configuration.
"Justin has had a really solid year despite fighting through some injuries this spring," CU head coach Roy Edwards said. "His game is as good as it ever has been and we look forward to the NCAA's being a tremendous springboard to his summer tournament schedule and into the fall.
Biwer led the team in stroke average for the second time in his career with a 71.38 mark, along with team-best in several categories including rounds counting toward team scoring (33 of 34), rounds in the 60s (11), subpar rounds (18), rounds of par or better (22) and top 20 finishes (six). He has played in 38 collegiate events, finishing under par in 20 of those (and even in one other), and for 108 rounds, owns a career stroke average of 71.09, the best in school history.
"He has really been one of the most consistent players in his first three years in our history," Edwards added. "On top of being a great player, he is an Academic All-American. This year, he wasn't playing his so-called 'best' and he was still able to scratch a really good season, which is the sign of a really special player."
In CU's history in the NCAA, Biwer owns the seventh-best average – 72.56 for nine rounds – the latter tied for the ninth-most by a Buffalo. This marks the eighth time a Buffalo has been invited as a regional participant individually, and Biwer joins Daniel O'Loughlin earning the distinction twice (the NCAA created the regional format in 1989).
He had a competitive tune-up Thursday in U.S. Open Qualifying at The Broadlands in Westminster. He tied for ninth with a 3-under 69, missing participating in a playoff for the fifth and final spot to advance to sectionals. After bogeying the first hole, he went on a tear with six straight birdies; he had seven overall with an eagle, but a triple bogey on the 594-yard, par-5 3rd hole worked against him. He previously had tied for 15th in the final Pac-12 Championship last month.
Biwer earned a berth as a freshman in 2022, where he tied for 40th in the Norman Regional; he recorded a 4-over par 72-73-77—220 score. CU qualified as a team last year, and a sophomore he tied for 16th once again Norman, with a 5-under 70-71-70--211 effort; the Buffs finished third and advanced to the NCAA Finals, where CU missed the cut; he had a 73-74-73—220 scorecard, 10-over par.
Biwer will tee off at 8:31 a.m. MDT on No. 1 and will be paired with Jacksonville State's Erik Jansson and the No. 4 player from the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
The top five teams and the low individual not on those teams from each of six regionals will advance to the NCAA Finals. Those are set for May 24-29 at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, Calif. Three Buffaloes have advanced in the past as that top individual, Bobby Kalinowski in 1993 (tied for ninth); Derek Tolan in 2008 (tied for seventh) and David Oraee in 2015 (second).
In addition to Biwer, 10 other Buffaloes so far have attempted to qualify for next month's U.S. Open at Pinehurst (N.C.) Course No. 2. Three advanced to sectional qualifying: sophomores Robby Keilch and Hunter Swanson and alum Derek Fribbs ('11). Two others earned alternate status.
Fribbs earned co-medalist honors with a 2-under 69 at Collindale Golf Course in Fort Collins on May 2; Keilch shot a 5-under 67 to tie for second at Bermuda Dunes (Calif.) Country Club on Thursday; and Swanson won in a playoff to earn the fifth and final spot Tuesday at Walnut Creek Golf Preserve in Westminster. He shot a 78, as the players were faced with winds constant in the 30s that often gusted as high as 53 miles per hour.
Tolan ('08) and Ryan Schmitz ('17) also played at Collindale, with Tolan, CU's associate head coach, carding a 1-over 72 and missing by a stroke, with Schmitz scoring a 6-over 77.
Junior Tucker Clark and incoming freshman Parker Paxton competed at Paxton's home course, Riverton Country Club. Both fired 2-under par 70s and emerged as the first and second alternates, respectively. They tied for second behind Blake Tomlinson, a University of Utah alum ('22), who shot a 64.
Freshman Ty Holbrook attempted to qualify at Coyote Ridge Golf Club in Carrolton, Texas, but his 2-over 74 was two strokes shy of advancing in one of the more competitive qualifiers. Forty-three players carded scores between 73 and 76.
Freshman Brandon Knight also tried his hand at Walnut Creek, where he shot an 88; however, the average score for the 56 players who finished in the wind-blown trial was 83.1, with 21 players opting not to finish, many headed for scores in the 90s. Dan Sniffin ('00) fell short as well with an 81.
Sectional qualifying – 36 holes – is set for May 20 (three locations, including Dallas) and June 3 (10 courses, two west of the Mississippi in Daly City, Calif., and Bend, Ore).
The competition is set for the University of Texas Golf Club, which will play to 7,399-yards and a par-71 configuration.
"Justin has had a really solid year despite fighting through some injuries this spring," CU head coach Roy Edwards said. "His game is as good as it ever has been and we look forward to the NCAA's being a tremendous springboard to his summer tournament schedule and into the fall.
Biwer led the team in stroke average for the second time in his career with a 71.38 mark, along with team-best in several categories including rounds counting toward team scoring (33 of 34), rounds in the 60s (11), subpar rounds (18), rounds of par or better (22) and top 20 finishes (six). He has played in 38 collegiate events, finishing under par in 20 of those (and even in one other), and for 108 rounds, owns a career stroke average of 71.09, the best in school history.
"He has really been one of the most consistent players in his first three years in our history," Edwards added. "On top of being a great player, he is an Academic All-American. This year, he wasn't playing his so-called 'best' and he was still able to scratch a really good season, which is the sign of a really special player."
In CU's history in the NCAA, Biwer owns the seventh-best average – 72.56 for nine rounds – the latter tied for the ninth-most by a Buffalo. This marks the eighth time a Buffalo has been invited as a regional participant individually, and Biwer joins Daniel O'Loughlin earning the distinction twice (the NCAA created the regional format in 1989).
He had a competitive tune-up Thursday in U.S. Open Qualifying at The Broadlands in Westminster. He tied for ninth with a 3-under 69, missing participating in a playoff for the fifth and final spot to advance to sectionals. After bogeying the first hole, he went on a tear with six straight birdies; he had seven overall with an eagle, but a triple bogey on the 594-yard, par-5 3rd hole worked against him. He previously had tied for 15th in the final Pac-12 Championship last month.
Biwer earned a berth as a freshman in 2022, where he tied for 40th in the Norman Regional; he recorded a 4-over par 72-73-77—220 score. CU qualified as a team last year, and a sophomore he tied for 16th once again Norman, with a 5-under 70-71-70--211 effort; the Buffs finished third and advanced to the NCAA Finals, where CU missed the cut; he had a 73-74-73—220 scorecard, 10-over par.
Biwer will tee off at 8:31 a.m. MDT on No. 1 and will be paired with Jacksonville State's Erik Jansson and the No. 4 player from the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
The top five teams and the low individual not on those teams from each of six regionals will advance to the NCAA Finals. Those are set for May 24-29 at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, Calif. Three Buffaloes have advanced in the past as that top individual, Bobby Kalinowski in 1993 (tied for ninth); Derek Tolan in 2008 (tied for seventh) and David Oraee in 2015 (second).
BUFFS & U.S. OPEN QUALIFYING
In addition to Biwer, 10 other Buffaloes so far have attempted to qualify for next month's U.S. Open at Pinehurst (N.C.) Course No. 2. Three advanced to sectional qualifying: sophomores Robby Keilch and Hunter Swanson and alum Derek Fribbs ('11). Two others earned alternate status. Fribbs earned co-medalist honors with a 2-under 69 at Collindale Golf Course in Fort Collins on May 2; Keilch shot a 5-under 67 to tie for second at Bermuda Dunes (Calif.) Country Club on Thursday; and Swanson won in a playoff to earn the fifth and final spot Tuesday at Walnut Creek Golf Preserve in Westminster. He shot a 78, as the players were faced with winds constant in the 30s that often gusted as high as 53 miles per hour.
Tolan ('08) and Ryan Schmitz ('17) also played at Collindale, with Tolan, CU's associate head coach, carding a 1-over 72 and missing by a stroke, with Schmitz scoring a 6-over 77.
Junior Tucker Clark and incoming freshman Parker Paxton competed at Paxton's home course, Riverton Country Club. Both fired 2-under par 70s and emerged as the first and second alternates, respectively. They tied for second behind Blake Tomlinson, a University of Utah alum ('22), who shot a 64.
Freshman Ty Holbrook attempted to qualify at Coyote Ridge Golf Club in Carrolton, Texas, but his 2-over 74 was two strokes shy of advancing in one of the more competitive qualifiers. Forty-three players carded scores between 73 and 76.
Freshman Brandon Knight also tried his hand at Walnut Creek, where he shot an 88; however, the average score for the 56 players who finished in the wind-blown trial was 83.1, with 21 players opting not to finish, many headed for scores in the 90s. Dan Sniffin ('00) fell short as well with an 81.
Sectional qualifying – 36 holes – is set for May 20 (three locations, including Dallas) and June 3 (10 courses, two west of the Mississippi in Daly City, Calif., and Bend, Ore).
Players Mentioned
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