Battle at Air Force Academy

In the same week the University of Colorado men’s golf squad opened the season with a victory in the three-team Ballyneal Challenge, it’s in good position to add a full-field title.

After Saturday’s first 36 holes of a 54-hole event, the Buffs share the lead with Texas-El Paso at the Gene Miranda Falcon Invitational at Eisenhower Golf Club at the Air Force Academy.

CU posted scores of 284-289 for a 3-under-par 573 total. Rounding out the top five in the 16-team field are UNLV (579), defending champion Colorado State (588) and host Air Force’s B team (591). Northern Colorado (605) holds 10th place and the top Air Force team (608) is 12th going into Sunday’s final round.

Coloradan Ethan Freeman (69-73–142) and Yannik Paul (70-72–142) are leading the way for CU individually as they share fifth place. CSU’s Jake Staiano (71-69–140) is fourth, three strokes behind co-leaders John Oda of UNLV and Andreas Sorenson of UTEP.

Gene Miranda Falcon Invitational
At Par-72 Eisenhower GC’s Blue Course at Air Force Academy

1. Colorado 284-289–573
5. Yannik Paul 70-72–142
5. Ethan Freeman 69-73–143
9. Morten Toft Hansen 74-70–144
13. Spencer Painton 71-74–145
41. Jeremy Paul 74-78–152

4. Colorado State 298-290–588
4. Jake Staiano 71-69–140
14. Blake Cannon 73-73–146
35. Colton Yates 76-75–151
35. AJ Ott 78-73–151
56. Kyle Kidd 80-75–155

5. Air Force B 305-286–591
7. Todd Millard 73-70–143
14. Joshua Wu 77-69–146
28. Tate Tatom 77-73–150
41. Troy Berglund 78-74–152
85. Joseph Crisostomo 85-77–162

10. Northern Colorado 308-297–605
19. Coby Welch 75-72–147
28. Andrew Romano 76-74–150
58. Joshua Matz 80-76–156
58. Sam Marley 81-75–156
70. Li Chen 77-80–157

12. Air Force A 301-307–608
19. Sunwoo Choi 72-75–147
28. Bryant Falconello 73-77–150
58. Brenden Bone 78-78–156
70. Dane Hankamer 78-79–157
78. Turner Howe 82-77–159

Also (Individuals and Coloradans on Other Teams)
9. John Souza, CU 74-70–144
19. Jimmy Makloski, CSU 73-74–147
28. Tanner Jenson, Utah State 76-74–150
35. Glenn Workman, Wyoming 74-77–151
41. Tristan Rohrbaugh, Boise State 78-74–152
50. Max Oelfke, CSU 78-75–153
58. Philip Lee, UNC 77-79–156
73. Ryan Schmitz, CU 81-77–158