Colorado University Athletics
Photo by: CUBuffs.com
June Recap & Notes
July 02, 2024 | Men's Golf
Several members of the University of Colorado's 2024-25 golf team were in action all around the nation in June. Here's a look at some of the top performances, along with some alumni nuggets:
BUFFS HIT THE EAST COAST
Seniors Justin Biwer and Dylan McDermott and junior Hunter Swanson trekked east in the latter part of June to play in three prestigious amateur events.
In the Northeast Amateur Invitational in Providence, R.I. (Wannamoisett Country Club), McDermott placed 42nd with a 2-over 71-68-70-69—278 effort, while Biwer tied for 49th (68-73-71-68—280, +4). In the North South Amateur at Pinehurst, N.C., Swanson tied for 27th in the stroke play qualifier (69-73—142, +1), but was seeded 31st and dropped his first match to Vanderbilt senior (and the 15th-ranked amateur in the world) Jordan Van Paris, 3 and 2. McDermott just missed advancing to the match play portion by a stroke (70-73—143, +2).
Biwer had missed advancing to the final round of the Sunnehanna Amateur (Johnstown, Pa.) by one stroke in a most competitive field despite a 3-under 213 (70-74-690. And earlier in June, Swanson tied for third in the Southwestern Amateur (73-65-70-69—277, -11), the third-best finish by a Buff golfer in the event and one stroke out of the lead.
Biwer and McDermott head to Lexington, Ky., to play in the 118th Southern Amateur, July 17-20, at Idle Hour Country Club. Biwer will be in Kentucky this Thursday, playing in the prequalifier for the PGA Tour's ISCO Championship in Nicholasville; if he advances, the qualifier for the full event is next Monday, July 8. After the Southern, McDermott will head to Ohio for the Western Amateur.
U.S. AMATEUR UPDATE: HOLBROOK ADVANCES
ALBUQUERQUE – Sophomore Ty Holbrook advanced to the next stage of U.S. Amateur qualifying, as he carded a 5-under 67 on June 25, one back of medalist honors, on the University of New Mexico's Championship Course.
Holbrook turned in a solid performance with an eagle, four birdies and just one bogey on the challenging 7,546-yard, par-72 layout the Buffs annually compete on every September in UNM's Tucker Intercollegiate.
Senior Tucker Clark missed advancing by a single stroke, as he had 1-under 71 with five birdies and four bogeys that tied him for 17th. Ryan Schmitz ('17) also fell just short, tying for 34th with a 1-over 73. McDermott is except for this year's event, scheduled for Aug. 12-24 at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minn.; Biwer will attempt to qualify on July 22 in Mission Viejo.
KNIGHT SHINES IN CALIFORNIA AMATEUR
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – Sophomore Brandon Knight advanced to the quarterfinals in last week's California Amateur at Sherwood Country Club, but caused some damage along the way.
After the second round of stroke play, where he turned in a 3-over 73-74—147 scorecard, he was in an 11-way tie for the 32nd and final spot for the match play portion. In the playoff, they played the 18th hole repeatedly, where on the fourth time it was down to three players and he made a tough 30-footer for par while the other two bogeyed. After claiming the final spot, he squared off against Pepperdine junior and No. 1 seed Brady Siravo (who won the stroke play by seven strokes with a 12-under 132); Knight upended him 3 and 1. He then defeated veteran state amateur Mike Perchak, 2 and 1, to advance to the quarterfinals, where incoming Stanford freshman Logan Kim (not the actor) bested him, 6 and 4.
In late May, he claimed medalist honors in the Sacramento Memorial Amateur (66-68-69—203, -13). Next up for him will be in the Silverado Amateur (July 8-9), one of the Saguaro Amateur series events co-created by CU head coach Roy Edwards.
PAXTON EDGED IN WYOMING AMATEUR
EVANSTON, Wyo. – Incoming freshman Parker Paxton (Riverton, Wyo.), just missed out on defending his title in the Wyoming Amateur that wrapped last Sunday. Taj Sutherland overtook him in the final round, getting some "revenge" on Paxton, who defeated him earlier in the month in the state match play.
Paxton turned in a 67-71-72—210 scorecard (6-under) on the Purple Sage Golf Course here, while Sutherland's card of 73-66-70—209 bested him by one shot. It was the fifth straight top five finish in the event for Paxton, who tied for fourth in 2020, placed fifth in both 2021 and 2022, and was the 2023 champion.
SPEAKING OF WORLD AMATEUR RANKINGS
In the latest World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR), three Buffaloes are in the top 200 as of June26: McDermott (#102), Biwer (#143), and incoming freshman Zeqian "Michael" Fang (#169); he has been competing in his native China. Other Buffs in the top 1,000 include Swanson (#417) and Clark (#997), while Knight is next (#1,277). McDermott sctually was 99th when the U.S. Amateur selected the top 100 amateurs to exempt into this year's field.
IVAN SNARES STATE'S SENIOR MATCH PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP
WINDSOR — University of Colorado golf alumnus Steve Ivan ('84) won for the second time in the Colorado Senior Match Play Championship, the 55th annual of which was held here in the last week of June at RainDance National Golf Course.
Ivan, 62, won his "pod" to advance into the 16-man match play final. In the first round, he defeated another former Buffalo, Mark Crabtree, 3 and 2 (both are on the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame board, coincidentally). In the quarterfinals, he bested Danny Thompson convincingly, 7 and 6, and advanced into the finals match with a 4 and 2 win over Victor Minovich.
In the finals, he claimed the title with 2-up win over No. 1 seed and defending champion Jon Lindstrom, the No. 8-ranked senior amateur in the world. The match was close throughout; Ivan never trailed, but never led by more than 1 up until the 18th hole when Lindstrom conceded after missing a birdie putt; Ivan would have needed to get down in two from about 18 feet.
The 10th player to win the event twice, this was the fifth time Ivan made the finals, winning the 2020 crowns with runner-up finishes in 2018, 2019 and 2021.
SWEDISH BUFFS
BROKIND, Sweden – Three Buff alumni were reunited last week here in the PGA Championship Landeryd Masters at Vesterby Links. Two played in the event, the other commentated.
Victor Bjorlow ('21) was tied for the lead after 54 holes but slipped in the final round into a tie for eighth, finishing 1-under par (72-66-67-78—283). Kristoffer Max ('22) was a bit down the line, tying for 46th (73-70-74-80—297, +13).
The Swedish Golf Federation runs a the Cutter & Buck Tour, where the players are mainly from Sweden, Denmark and Norway, and this is one of the signature events. Bjorlow and Max pay regularly on the circuit, which is televised locally. One of the analysts on the broadcasts is John Lindberg ('89), one of the best international golfers in CU history (he led the team in stroke average all three years he competed).
PAUL TWINS CONTINUE TO SHINE
CU alums Jeremy ('17) and Yannik ('18) Paul continue to do well on their respective pro tours. Jeremy is 13th on the Korn Ferry points list (759) and 10th on the money list for 2024 ($270,395); those who finish in the top 25 on the year-end money list earn PGA Tour cards for the next year.. Yannik is 65th in the rankings of the DP World Tour and won over €280,000 this year.
BUFFS HIT THE EAST COAST
Seniors Justin Biwer and Dylan McDermott and junior Hunter Swanson trekked east in the latter part of June to play in three prestigious amateur events.
In the Northeast Amateur Invitational in Providence, R.I. (Wannamoisett Country Club), McDermott placed 42nd with a 2-over 71-68-70-69—278 effort, while Biwer tied for 49th (68-73-71-68—280, +4). In the North South Amateur at Pinehurst, N.C., Swanson tied for 27th in the stroke play qualifier (69-73—142, +1), but was seeded 31st and dropped his first match to Vanderbilt senior (and the 15th-ranked amateur in the world) Jordan Van Paris, 3 and 2. McDermott just missed advancing to the match play portion by a stroke (70-73—143, +2).
Biwer had missed advancing to the final round of the Sunnehanna Amateur (Johnstown, Pa.) by one stroke in a most competitive field despite a 3-under 213 (70-74-690. And earlier in June, Swanson tied for third in the Southwestern Amateur (73-65-70-69—277, -11), the third-best finish by a Buff golfer in the event and one stroke out of the lead.
Biwer and McDermott head to Lexington, Ky., to play in the 118th Southern Amateur, July 17-20, at Idle Hour Country Club. Biwer will be in Kentucky this Thursday, playing in the prequalifier for the PGA Tour's ISCO Championship in Nicholasville; if he advances, the qualifier for the full event is next Monday, July 8. After the Southern, McDermott will head to Ohio for the Western Amateur.
U.S. AMATEUR UPDATE: HOLBROOK ADVANCES
ALBUQUERQUE – Sophomore Ty Holbrook advanced to the next stage of U.S. Amateur qualifying, as he carded a 5-under 67 on June 25, one back of medalist honors, on the University of New Mexico's Championship Course.
Holbrook turned in a solid performance with an eagle, four birdies and just one bogey on the challenging 7,546-yard, par-72 layout the Buffs annually compete on every September in UNM's Tucker Intercollegiate.
Senior Tucker Clark missed advancing by a single stroke, as he had 1-under 71 with five birdies and four bogeys that tied him for 17th. Ryan Schmitz ('17) also fell just short, tying for 34th with a 1-over 73. McDermott is except for this year's event, scheduled for Aug. 12-24 at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minn.; Biwer will attempt to qualify on July 22 in Mission Viejo.
KNIGHT SHINES IN CALIFORNIA AMATEUR
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – Sophomore Brandon Knight advanced to the quarterfinals in last week's California Amateur at Sherwood Country Club, but caused some damage along the way.
After the second round of stroke play, where he turned in a 3-over 73-74—147 scorecard, he was in an 11-way tie for the 32nd and final spot for the match play portion. In the playoff, they played the 18th hole repeatedly, where on the fourth time it was down to three players and he made a tough 30-footer for par while the other two bogeyed. After claiming the final spot, he squared off against Pepperdine junior and No. 1 seed Brady Siravo (who won the stroke play by seven strokes with a 12-under 132); Knight upended him 3 and 1. He then defeated veteran state amateur Mike Perchak, 2 and 1, to advance to the quarterfinals, where incoming Stanford freshman Logan Kim (not the actor) bested him, 6 and 4.
In late May, he claimed medalist honors in the Sacramento Memorial Amateur (66-68-69—203, -13). Next up for him will be in the Silverado Amateur (July 8-9), one of the Saguaro Amateur series events co-created by CU head coach Roy Edwards.
PAXTON EDGED IN WYOMING AMATEUR
EVANSTON, Wyo. – Incoming freshman Parker Paxton (Riverton, Wyo.), just missed out on defending his title in the Wyoming Amateur that wrapped last Sunday. Taj Sutherland overtook him in the final round, getting some "revenge" on Paxton, who defeated him earlier in the month in the state match play.
Paxton turned in a 67-71-72—210 scorecard (6-under) on the Purple Sage Golf Course here, while Sutherland's card of 73-66-70—209 bested him by one shot. It was the fifth straight top five finish in the event for Paxton, who tied for fourth in 2020, placed fifth in both 2021 and 2022, and was the 2023 champion.
SPEAKING OF WORLD AMATEUR RANKINGS
In the latest World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR), three Buffaloes are in the top 200 as of June26: McDermott (#102), Biwer (#143), and incoming freshman Zeqian "Michael" Fang (#169); he has been competing in his native China. Other Buffs in the top 1,000 include Swanson (#417) and Clark (#997), while Knight is next (#1,277). McDermott sctually was 99th when the U.S. Amateur selected the top 100 amateurs to exempt into this year's field.
IVAN SNARES STATE'S SENIOR MATCH PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP
WINDSOR — University of Colorado golf alumnus Steve Ivan ('84) won for the second time in the Colorado Senior Match Play Championship, the 55th annual of which was held here in the last week of June at RainDance National Golf Course.
Ivan, 62, won his "pod" to advance into the 16-man match play final. In the first round, he defeated another former Buffalo, Mark Crabtree, 3 and 2 (both are on the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame board, coincidentally). In the quarterfinals, he bested Danny Thompson convincingly, 7 and 6, and advanced into the finals match with a 4 and 2 win over Victor Minovich.
In the finals, he claimed the title with 2-up win over No. 1 seed and defending champion Jon Lindstrom, the No. 8-ranked senior amateur in the world. The match was close throughout; Ivan never trailed, but never led by more than 1 up until the 18th hole when Lindstrom conceded after missing a birdie putt; Ivan would have needed to get down in two from about 18 feet.
The 10th player to win the event twice, this was the fifth time Ivan made the finals, winning the 2020 crowns with runner-up finishes in 2018, 2019 and 2021.
SWEDISH BUFFS
BROKIND, Sweden – Three Buff alumni were reunited last week here in the PGA Championship Landeryd Masters at Vesterby Links. Two played in the event, the other commentated.
Victor Bjorlow ('21) was tied for the lead after 54 holes but slipped in the final round into a tie for eighth, finishing 1-under par (72-66-67-78—283). Kristoffer Max ('22) was a bit down the line, tying for 46th (73-70-74-80—297, +13).
The Swedish Golf Federation runs a the Cutter & Buck Tour, where the players are mainly from Sweden, Denmark and Norway, and this is one of the signature events. Bjorlow and Max pay regularly on the circuit, which is televised locally. One of the analysts on the broadcasts is John Lindberg ('89), one of the best international golfers in CU history (he led the team in stroke average all three years he competed).
PAUL TWINS CONTINUE TO SHINE
CU alums Jeremy ('17) and Yannik ('18) Paul continue to do well on their respective pro tours. Jeremy is 13th on the Korn Ferry points list (759) and 10th on the money list for 2024 ($270,395); those who finish in the top 25 on the year-end money list earn PGA Tour cards for the next year.. Yannik is 65th in the rankings of the DP World Tour and won over €280,000 this year.
Players Mentioned
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