A Nice Cushion

The Colorado State University men’s golf team has put itself in a commanding position for its fourth consecutive title in the program’s own Ram Masters Invitational, but it will take one more solid round to complete the four-peat.

The Rams used a tournament-record score of 12-under-par 268 in Monday’s first round at Fort Collins Country Club to help build the 14-stroke lead they’ll take into Tuesday’s final round of the 54-hole event.

Colorado State has won the team title at the Ram Masters each of the last three years after being runner-up by a single stroke the first two years it was held.

CSU stands at 12-under 548 for 36 holes, with Missouri-Kansas City in second place at 562 and Wyoming in third at 563. Northern Colorado is sixth at 573, while Denver is seventh at 574 and the Air Force Academy is 13th at 587 in the 19-team field.

The Rams were the runner-up to Wyoming in last weekend’s season-opening Gene Miranda Falcon Invitational at the Air Force Academy.

CSU has four players in the top 10 individually after day 1: AJ Ott is third at 4-under-par 136; Max Oelfke sixth at 137; Jake Staiano seventh at 138; and Colton Yates ninth at 139.

Also in the top 10 from a Colorado-based school is DU’s Chris Korte, who’s tied with Staiano at 138.

Missouri-KC’s Francois Lagraulet leads individually at 8-under-par 132, while Wyoming’s John Murdock is second at 134.

For all the scores from the Ram Masters Invite, CLICK HERE.