The University of Colorado golf programs have both certainly made some noise nationally this season.
Back in September, the women’s team’s Esther Lee set the women’s NCAA record for low round in relation to par with an 11-under-par 61.
Then on Saturday at the Classic Club in Palm Desert, Calif., the CU men’s team shot the lowest single-round team score — in relation to par — in college golf this season as the Buffs posted a 22-under 266 in the Wyoming Desert Intercollegiate. CU sports information director Dave Plati also said it was the lowest round in program history by five shots, relative to par.
CU put all four of its score-counting players in the 60s to move into second place, four strokes behind Coloradan Wyndham Clark’s tournamant-leading Oregon squad with one round remaining in the 22-team tournament.
Jeremy Paul (pictured with CU coach Roy Edwards) fired an 8-under-par 64 — matching the best score in team history, relative to par — despite bogeying the par-5 final hole. Fellow senior Ethan Freeman posted a 66 with an eagle, junior John Souza a 67 and junior Yannik Paul a 69. With that 266 team total, the Buffs stand at 19-under 557.
“It was one of those special days,” Edwards told CUBuffs.com. “Things kind of fell into place from start to finish, and we had a few breaks here and there. So you have to enjoy these days when they come around because you don’t shoot this low very often. Simply just a great day by the guys. They were awesome.”
Jeremy Paul and Clark, the No. 1-ranked college player in the country, share third place individually at 7-under-par 137, sitting five strokes behind Clark’s Oregon teammate Norman Xiong (67-65). Freeman (141) is also in the top 10, sharing eighth place. Clark carded a bogey-free 7-under-par 65 on Saturday.
All of the golfers comprising CU’s team are in the top 20 individually, with Souza (12th at 142), Yannik Paul (14th at 143) and Spencer Painton (20th at 144) rounding out the five.
(Update: For the final results from the tournament, CLICK HERE.)
Wyoming Desert Intercollegiate
Feb. 17-19, 2017 in Palm Desert, Calif.
2. (out of 22 teams) Colorado 291-266–557
3. Jeremy Paul 73-64–137
8. Ethan Freeman 75-66–141
12. John Souza 75-67–142
14. Yannik Paul 74-69–143
20. Spencer Painton 69-75–144
25. Ryan Schmitz (competing only as individual) 76-69–145
60. Wilson Belk (competing only as individual) 79-71–150
82. Victor Bjorlow (competing only as individual) 76-77–153
13. Denver 304-293–597
25. Petter Mikalsen 71-74–145
39. Jake Kelley 75-72–147
82. Eric Hagen 79-74–153
82. Isaac Petersilie 79-74–153
124. Chris Korte X-73
90. Roy Kang (competing only as individual) 79-75–154
113. Troy Dangler (competing only as individual) 84-75–149
Also
3. Coloradan Wyndham Clark, Oregon 72-65–137
55. Coloradan Glenn Workman, Wyoming 76-73–149
