2017-18 Men's Golf Roster
Ross Macdonald
- Height:
- 5-11
- Weight:
- 175
- Class:
- Sophomore
- Hometown:
- Castle Rock, Colo.
- High School:
- Valor Christian
Career—He earned five letters (due to the extra COVID year), one of just three players to do so in school history … Played in 41 events, finishing under par in eight and even par in three … Had 14 top 20 finishes (tied for 18th at Colorado), including eight n the top 10 … Career average of 73.63, the 11th-best in school history … Played 122 career rounds (21st), with 58 rounds of par or better (fifth on the school charts), including 28 subpar (tied for 10th) and 17 in the 60s (tied for seventh).
2020-21 (Sr.-2): Played in just two events, both as a individual (score did not count toward team total), as he owned a 75.5 average for those six rounds … Tied for 109th in Wyoming’s Cowboy Classic (232, +16) and was 25th in the Southern Colorado Masters (221, +8); he had his best score of the spring in the second round of the latter (a 2-under 69) … He decided to return for another crack at his senior year after the NCAA allowed for an additional year of eligibility for those spring sport athletes that had their 2020 spring seasons cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2019-20 (Sr.): He finished third on the team in stroke average (72.52), and had the second-best mark for the fall (72.07) … The latter was bolstered by his best collegiate round, a 6-under 66 in the final round of CU’s own Mark Simpson Invitational … His best effort and finish in the fall came in the Simpson, when he scored 16 birdies en route to an 8-under 208 which tied him for eighth … Had two other top 15 finishes, tying for 13th in CSU’s Ram Masters Invitational (210, E) and tying for 15th in CU’s Les Fowler event (150, +10) … Opened strong in the spring with a 2-under 214 in the UHH Amer Ari Invitational (tying for 44th) … Came back the next event and tied for 37th, his best of the three spring events, in Wyoming’s Desert Intercollegiate (219, +3) … Tied the school record set several times previously with two eagles in a single round when he scored a pair in the final round in the Lamkin San Diego Classic; he had three in the event overall, a team-high and believed to tie the school record for the most in a single tournament ... He had the most consistent round-to-round performance on the team, spaced apart by 2/10 of a stroke (72.50 for the first, 72.43 for middle rounds and 72.63 for the final rounds) … The 16 birdies in the Simpson tied for the most a Buff in a tournament for the season … He led the team in eagles (5), was second in subpar hole percentage (18.1; 75 of 414), was third in top 20 finishes (three, all in the fall) and had just 11 holes worse than bogey (which he also managed in 16 of his 23 rounds).
2018-19 (Jr.): Owned the third-best stroke average on the team at 73.92 (74.09 for the spring, second-best) as he played in all 12 tournaments ... Opened the year where he had left off as a sophomore (had a SCIRP of even through nine rounds), when he recorded all three of his top 20 finishes on the year ... He led the Buffaloes in three events, including twice in the spring ... Was fairly consistent across the board (averaging between 73.3 and 74.2 in first, middle and final rounds) ... Had just 14 holes (out of 666) worse than bogey on the year (all doubles), and led the team in eagles with four ... Of his 37 rounds for the year, 30 counted toward team scoring, with 25 of those rounds where he did not have a hole worse than a bogey (had three tournaments without anything higher than a bogey as well) ... He scored between 67 and 75 in 27 of his rounds … He tied for 51st in the Pac-12 Championships with a 16-over par scorecard of 300; he opened strong with a 72-71 to stand at 1 over at the midway point, when he was tied for 22nd … Top finish in the spring was a tie for 27th in the Lamkin San Diego Classic, where he finished with a 4-over 220 … A 215 (-1) in Arizona’s NIT event tied him for 37th … Owned a 73.67 stroke average for the fall where he opened strong, with a 72.0 norm until it spiked a bit after his final two performances … He earned that even-par average on the strength of three top 20 finishes, topped by a tie for sixth in CU’s own Mark Simpson Invitational (214, -2) … Also tied for 17th in Air Force’s Miranda (216, E) and in Utah’s Showdown in the Rockies (218, +2); he had his low round for the season in the latter, a final round 67.
2017-18 (Soph.-RS): He played in eight tournaments on the year, five in the spring … His 72.71 stroke average was fourth-best on the team, with his 71.47 spring norm second-best (and the sixth-best in CU history) … Earned honorable mention All-Pac-12 honors … After playing the first three tournaments in the spring as an individual, where he tied for fourth twice and for sixth with a 71.5 average, he was once again elevated to the travel squad for the Pac-12 Championships, earning the sixth and final spot … Along with teammate Yannik Paul, they became the first players in school history to shoot in the 60s in all four rounds of any tournament; his 69-69-67-67—272 score (12-under par) was god for a second-place tie (with Paul) … The 12-under in relation to par shattered the previous best of 4-under by eight strokes, while tying the best score in any event in relation to par … In helping the team to second in the team standings (four back of champion and host USC), he had 18 birdies, 48 pars and just six bogeys, and led the field in par-4 scoring at 9-under par … Earned CU’s Male Athlete of the Week honors for his efforts at the Pac-12’s … He cooled off a bit in the NCAA West Regional, tying for 72nd (229, +13); he did tie for the team-high in pars for a single round with 16 in the final round when he shot a 74 … Had 11 of his 16 rounds count toward team scoring when he was designated as a scorer … His three top five and four top 10 finishes were both second-best on the team … Of the 432 holes he played on the season, 78.9 percent were par or better, fourth-best on the Buffs (264 pars, 75 birdies, two eagles) … In the fall, he returned to collegiate competitive action after a redshirt year … He opened up with a strong effort in Air Force’s Miranda Invitational, where he tied for 17th with a 73-68-72—213 effort (3-under), leading the 111-man field in par-3 scoring and led the Buffs in birdies (15) … He played in three tournaments in the fall overall, finishing with a 74.78 average for nine rounds … Owned a 71.38 average for eight individual rounds, the best number for the six players who competed in events as an individual.
2016-17 (Soph.): Redshirted; he practiced and participated in qualifying rounds.
2015-16 (Fr.): He enjoyed one of the finer freshman seasons in school history; with a 74.44 stroke average (fifth on the team) that was the seventh-best ever at Colorado by a frosh. The 74.4 also was the eighth-best average by a freshman in the Pac-12 (his 32 rounds were the third most by a freshman in the league). He was one of CU’s designated scorers for 30 rounds, with 22 counting toward the CU team total. He had two top 10 finishes to his credit, tying for fifth in CU’s Mark Simpson Invitational (67-75-70—212, +2) and tying for ninth at the Wyoming Cowboy Classic (72-69-70—211, -5); the 67 in the Simpson was best round of the year. His average broke down fairly evenly: 73.4 (first round), 73.9 (middle rounds) and 74.8 (final round), as well as 74.1 (fall) and 74.9 (spring). He had nine rounds of par or better (five subpar), and shot par or better on 72.6 percent of his holes played (418 of 576 holes); he had just 25 doubles and a pair of triples. He was one of four finalists for CU’s 2015-16 Male Freshman of the Year (across all CU varsity sports).
High School—As a senior, he finished third in the 4A state championships with a 70-72—142 scorecard; he was seventh in the event as a junior (75-77—152) and 10th as a sophomore (75-73—148). He earned first-team All-State honors as a junior and senior (and honorable mention as a sophomore). He was one of two players to make the varsity team as a freshman, owning a 76.8 average, which he improved annually to 74.3 (sophomore), 72.9 (junior), and 70.95 (senior, one of top numbers in the state). Valor Christian claimed the 4A state championship in both 2013 and 2014, his junior and senior seasons, and was the state runner-up his sophomore campaign. VCHS was the Jeffco League champs his freshman senior years (independent in the two years in-between).
Other—2020: Reached the finals of the Colorado Golf Association Match Play Championship for the second time in three years, winning his first five matches before falling in the 36-hole final to Colin Prater (8 and 7) … Tied for 31st in the Colorado Golf Association’s Colorado Amateur (75-70-70-77—292, +12) at CommonGround GC in Aurora (he was one of just 17 players in the 84-man field to score two rounds of par or better). 2019: Placed seventh in the Colorado Amateur with a 71-70-70-74—285 (+1) performance at Lakewood Country Club … Tied for third in the stroke play qualifying for the CGA Match Play Championship (66, -5); he went on to win two matches and advance to the Round of 16 before being eliminated … Tied for 21st in the Southwestern Amateur at Desert Mountain Golf Club in Scottsdale (70-68-72-69—270, -1 … Tied for 43rd in the Pacific Coast Amateur at the UNM Championship course in Albuquerque (74-69-69-74—286, +2). 2018: Defended his title in the Colorado Golf Association’s Western Chapter Championship, as he shot a 71-65—136 (-6) at The Bridges Golf Course in Montrose to win by nine strokes. Trailing by two after the first round, and being 1-over par heading into the final nine, he would record two eagles and three birdies for a 29 to pull away from the field … Reached the finals of the CGA Match Play Championship at Ptarmigan Golf Club, winning his first five matches which included defeating defending champion Chris Korte, but fell to A.J. Ott in the 36-hole final, 9 and 8 … Placed 44th in the Southwestern Amateur (69-75-71-73—288, +8) at The Desert Mountain Club in Scottsdale. 2017: He cruised to a three-stroke win in the CGA’s Western Chapter Championship, as he shot 67-66-133 (-9) at the Tiara Rado Golf Course in Grand Junction. He finished as the third low amateur in the Wyoming Open (69-69-70—208), which tied him for 24th overall. He missed the cut in the Southwestern Amateur (Desert Mountain CC, Scottsdale, Ariz.) by one stroke, having turned in a 69-76—145 scorecard (+5). 2016: He tied for 25th in the Local U.S. Open Qualifying at Wichita (Kan.) Country Club, as he shot a two-over 38-35—73. 2015: He finished sixth in the CGA Stroke Play Championship, turning in a 70-68-69-72—279 scorecard (-5) at Common Ground Golf Club in Aurora. He reached the round of 16, winning two matches in the CGA’s Match Play Championship. He made the cut in the Colorado Open, finishing 64th with a 298 (+10), despite an opening round 68; he was the 14th low amateur. 2014: He defended his title in the CGA’s Junior Stroke Play Championship, carding a 73-70-67—210 scorecard in defeating Colby Welch in a sudden death playoff at Indian Tree Golf Club. He became the first player since former Buff Scott Peterson in the late 1980s to win back-to-back junior stroke play titles. For the year, he was the recipient of the Hale Irwin Elite Player Program Award and was the state’s Junior Player of the Year. 2013: He won the CGA Junior Stroke Play with a 68-68-71—207 (6-under) effort at Common Ground GC, defeating future CU teammate Ethan Freeman by four shots. He was the No. 18 seed in the Junior Match Play Championship and reached the quarterfinal round, posting three lopsided wins before falling. He represented Colorado for a second straight year in the Junior Americas Cup. 2012: He tied for second in the CGA Junior Stroke Play, one shot out of the lead with a 77-71-74—222 (6-over) at Keystone Ranch GC.
Best Career Round In Competition— 65 (-6, July 15, 2017, CGA Western Chapter Championship, The Bridges GC, Montrose, Colo.)
Academics—He graduated with a degree in Strategic Communication with minors in both Business and Communication from Colorado in May 2020, and earned a second degree in Real Estate in May 2021 … Named to the 2021 Spring Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll.
Personal— He was born June 29, 1996 in London, England. His hobbies include skiing and spending time with friends and family. (Note: he does not capitalize the “D” in his last name; all lower case.)
| Overall | |||||
| Season (SA/Rk) | Rd | Strokes | Avg. | Lo | Hi |
| 2015-16 (5) | 32 | 2382 | 74.44 | 67 | 84 |
| 2017-18 (4) | 24 | 1745 | 72.71 | 67 | 80 |
| 2018-19 (4) | 37 | 2735 | 73.92 | 67 | 80 |
| 2019-20 (3) | 23 | 1668 | 72.52 | 66 | 80 |
| 2020-21 (9) | 6 | 453 | 75.50 | 69 | 80 |
| Totals | 122 | 8983 | 73.63 | 66 | 84 |
| Spring | ||
| Rd | Strk | Avg. |
| 15 | 1123 | 74.87 |
| 15 | 1072 | 71.47 |
| 22 | 1630 | 74.09 |
| 9 | 659 | 73.22 |
| 6 | 453 | 75.50 |
| 67 | 4937 | 73.69 |
| Fall | ||
| Rd | Strk | Avg. |
| 17 | 1259 | 74.06 |
| 9 | 673 | 74.78 |
| 15 | 1105 | 73.67 |
| 14 | 1009 | 72.07 |
| - | -- | -- |
| 55 | 4046 | 73.56 |
| Season | Rounds | Holes | SCIRP |
| 2015-16 | 32 | 576 | +106 |
| 2017-18 | 24 | 432 | +27 |
| 2018-19 | 37 | 666 | +84 |
| 2019-20 | 23 | 414 | +22 |
| 2020-21 | 6 | 108 | +24 |
| Totals | 122 | 2196 | +263 |
| Eagles | Birdies | Pars | Bogeys |
| 0 | 81 | 337 | 131 |
| 2 | 75 | 264 | 81 |
| 4 | 95 | 394 | 159 |
| 5 | 70 | 250 | 78 |
| 1 | 15 | 58 | 28 |
| 12 | 336 | 1303 | 477 |
| Season | Doubles | Triples | Other |
| 2015-16 | 25 | 2 | 0 |
| 2017-18 | 6 | 3 | 1 |
| 2018-19 | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019-20 | 9 | 2 | 0 |
| 2020-21 | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| Totals | 59 | 8 | 1 |
| Subpar | Par/SP | Jumbo | |
| Pct. | Pct. | Pts. | Pct. |
| 14.1 | 72.6 | 29 | 0.929 |
| 17.8 | 78.9 | 15 | 0.625 |
| 14.9 | 74.0 | 14 | 0.378 |
| 18.1 | 78.5 | 13 | 0.565 |
| 14.8 | 68.5 | 7 | 1.167 |
| 15.8 | 75.2 | 78 | 0.639 |
Rounds Toward Team Scoring: 78 of 98 (79.6%; 24 played as an individual).
Stroke Count In Relation To Par (+263/+2.16): +106/+3.31 (2015-16); +27/+1.13 (2017-18); +84/+2.27 (2018-19); +22/+0.96 (2019-20);
+24/4.00 (2020-21).
Rounds—60s: 17 Subpar: 28 Even-Par: 13
Finishes—Wins: 0 Top 5: 4 Top 10: 8 Top 20: 14
| Fall 2015 | |||
| *Ballyneal Challenge | 73-76 -- 149 | + 7 | t13th |
| AFA Miranda Invitational | 78-68-78 -- 224 | + 8 | t52nd |
| UNM Tucker Invitational | 72-77-76 -- 225 | + 9 | t45th |
| CU-Mark Simpson Invitational | 67-75-70 -- 212 | + 2 | t5th |
| Alister Mackenzie Invitational | 68-78-72 -- 218 | + 5 | t61st |
| UCLA Gifford Collegiate | 77-71-83 -- 231 | +18 | t71st |
| Spring 2016 | |||
| Wyoming Desert Intercollegiate | 73-77-73—223 | + 7 | t35th |
| Stanford’s “The Goodwin” | 77-72-75—224 | +14 | t99th |
| Wyoming Cowboy Classic | 72-69-70—211 | - 5 | t9th |
| The Maxwell | 77-78—155 | +15 | 71st |
| Pac-12 Championships | 72-77-77-84—310 | +26 | 67th |
| Fall 2017 | |||
| AFA Miranda Invitational | 73-68-72 -- 213 | -3 | t17th |
| UNM Tucker Invitational | 75-80-73 -- 228 | +12 | t56th |
| CU-Mark Simpson Invitational | 77-78-77 -- 232 | +16 | t99th |
| Spring 2018 | |||
| *Colorado Mines/Writz Invitational | 72-77 -- 149 | + 5 | t6th |
| *Southern Colorado Masters | 69-73-67 -- 209 | - 4 | 4th |
| *ASU Individual Invitational | 71-72-70 -- 213 | E | t4th |
| Pac-12 Championships | 69-69-67-67 -- 272 | -12 | t2nd |
| NCAA West Regional | 75-80-75 -- 229 | +13 | t72nd |
| Fall 2018 | |||
| AFA Miranda Invitational | 74-71-71 -- 216 | E | t17th |
| Utah's Showdown in the Rockies | 73-78-67 -- 218 | + 2 | t17th |
| CU-Mark Simpson Invitational | 72-73-69 -- 214 | - 2 | t6th |
| UNM Tucker Invitational | 74-73-77 -- 224 | + 8 | t55th |
| DU Paintbrush Invitational | 79-78-76 -- 233 | +17 | t51st |
| Spring 2019 | |||
| UHH Amer Ari Invitational | 74-71-80 -- 225 | + 9 | t86th |
| Wyoming Desert Intercollegiate | 74-75-74 -- 223 | + 7 | t41st |
| Lamkin San Diego Classic | 69-73-78 -- 220 | + 4 | t27th |
| UA National Invitational Tournament | 70-73-72 -- 215 | - 1 | t37th |
| Stanford's "The Goodwin" | 72-80-72 -- 224 | +14 | t84th |
| ASU Thunderbird Collegiate | 76-73-74 -- 223 | +10 | t59th |
| Pac-12 Championships | 72-71-75-82 -- 300 | +16 | t51st |
| Fall 2019 | |||
| *AFA Miranda Invitational | 72-73-73 -- 218 | + 2 | t31st |
| *CSU Ram Masters Invitational | 71-68-71 -- 210 | E | t13th |
| UNM Tucker Invitational | 75-71-77 -- 223 | + 7 | t40th |
| CU-Mark Simpson Invitational | 72-70-66 -- 208 | - 8 | t8th |
| *CU-Les Fowler Invitational | 73-77 -- 150 | +10 | t15th |
| Spring 2020 | |||
| UHH Amer Ari Invitational | 73-71-70 -- 214 | - 2 | t44th |
| Wyoming Desert Intercollegiate | 71-76-72 -- 219 | + 3 | t37th |
| Lamkin San Diego Classic | 73-78-75 -- 226 | +10 | t72nd |
| Spring 2021 | |||
| *Wyoming Cowboy Classic | 78-77-77 -- 232 | +16 | t109th |
| *Southern Colorado Masters | 72-69-80 -- 221 | +8 | t25th |
(*-competed individually.)
