Golfers Move Into Sixth Place At Air Force
USAFA, Colo. — The University of Colorado men's golf team moved up four notches into sixth place after two rounds here Saturday, as the Buffaloes are opening the fall portion of their 2021-22 season in the 52nd Annual Gene Miranda Air Force Falcon Invitational.
The youngest CU lineup to ever play in a major tournament – one junior and four true freshmen – improved 16 strokes Saturday in turning in a 7-under par 281 score, the third-best team tally of the second round, giving the youthful Buffs a 2-over total of 578. UC Davis is running away with the meet, owning a 25-under score of 551, which leads runner-up San Jose State by 15 shots. Denver (568), Nevada (570) and Wyoming (571) round out the top five, and are the only other teams under par through 36 holes.
While it would take a major comeback by the Buffaloes and a collapse by UC Davis for CU to win this event for a third straight time, head coach Roy Edwards definitely liked what he is seeing from most of his "freshmen herd" competing here.
In addition to the main event, 45 others from those participating teams are competing in an individual tournament, including three Buffaloes. When the smoke cleared at the end of the day, two Buff frosh worked their way into the school's record book with two of the lowest scores ever posted by a CU rookie.
Jack Hughes, a redshirt frosh, carded a 7-under 65 to zoom into a tie for the lead in the individual tourney, as he used two eagles, five birdies and nine pars countered by just two bogeys to stand at 5-under 139 on the 6,510-yard, par-72 Eisenhower Silver Course. That tied the all-time low score (and relation to par) by a freshman previously recorded by Jeremy Paul (in 2013) and Morton Toft Hansen (in 2016); Ethan Freeman also shot a 5-under 65 in 2014.
Meanwhile, true freshman Dylan McDermott scored six pars and 12 birdies en route to a 6-under 66 on the Eisenhower Blue Course (7,541-yard, par-72), zooming from a tie for 63rd into one for 16th. That was the sixth 66 by a CU frosh, the third that six under par, and now tying the fifth-lowest by a Buff newbie.
Freshmen Justin Biwer and Frederik Eisenbeis are tied for 22nd, as both are in at even-par 144 totals for two rounds. Biwer had a more consistent day, with three birdies and 13 pars (two bogeys), while Eisenbeis' was closer to Mr. Toad's Wild Ride: six birdies and nine pars with two bogeys and a double.
Junior John Paterson shot a 2-over 74 for a 3-overe 147 total, tying him for 25th; he had two birdies and 12 pars with four bogeys, while freshman Jack Holland struggled a second straight day with a 7-overe 79; he's tied for 76th at 13-over 157. Holland did close strong for a second straight day, as he is 11-over on his first nine and just 2-over on his second nine, which includes playing the last six each day a combined 3-under.
" We played a much better round today, led by a truly spectacular 66 from Dylan," Edwards said. "Freddy had a really nice comeback after a tough start. Justin did the same. Really nice job by those three guys. John battled all day as well, and Jack Holland and was just off his game early but had a nice finish. The course played tough again today with winds that swirled most of the round.
"In the individual tournament, Jack Hughes played really well," Edwards said. "He had back-to-back eagles on par-4s, which I don't remember once ever seeing or hearing about. An amazing accomplishment and a great round overall."
UC Davis Thomas Hutchinson was on fire Saturday, as he recorded 10 birdies and no holes over par en route to a 10-under 62 and a 14-under 130 score through 36 holes, which is good for a five-stroke lead over a pair of competitors.
San Jose State's Vijay Srinivasan matched Hughes' 139 score in the indie event. The other Buffaloes in it, sophomore Adam Matteson is tied for seventh (74-71—145) and junior Kristoffer Max remained tied for 15th (74-74—148 ).
The third and final round Sunday will have the Buffaloes paired with Texas-El Paso, Weber State and Wyoming, with the first foursome of the grouping teeing off at 8:20 a.m. off No. 1. The individual tournament's final round is also Sunday but features an 8:30 a.m. shotgun start.
BUFFALO INDIVIDUALS
T16. Dylan McDermott................... 77-66—143
T22. Justin Biwer.......................... 73-71—144
T22. Frederik Eisenbeis.................. 74-70—144
T25. John Paterson........................ 73-74—147
T76. Jack Holland.......................... 78-79—157
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T1. Jack Hughes.......................... 74-65—139
T7. Adam Matteson...................... 74-71—145
T15. Kristoffer Max........................ 74-74—148
TOP FIVE INDIVIDUALS
1. Thomas Hutchinson, UC Davis........ 68-62—130
T2. Greg Yellin, UTEP........................... 67-68—135
T2. Blake Brothers, CSU-Northridge..... 69-66—135
4. Jackson Solem, Denver.................. 66-70—136
T5. Mark Stephens, UC Davis......... ....72-65—137
T5. Caleb Shetler, San Jose State....... 71-66—137
TEAM SCORES
1. UC Davis........................ 279-272—551
2. San Jose State............... 283-283—556
3. Denver........................... 286-282—568
4. Nevada.......................... 290-280—570
5. Wyoming........................ 289-282—571
6. COLORADO.................... 297-281—578
7. Texas-El Paso................. 291-291—582
7. Weber State................... 299-283—582
9. Northern Colorado.......... 291-292—583
10. UNLV............................. 294-291—585
11. New Mexico State........... 300-286—586
12. Utah Valley..................... 294-294—588
13. CSU-Northridge.............. 298-293—591
14. George Washington......... 303-293—596
15. Northern Iowa................ 303-294—597
15. Southern Illinois.............. 306-291—597
16. SIU-Edwardsville............. 304-294—598
18. Utah State...................... 307-292—599
19. Army............................. 309-297—606
20. Air Force........................ 312-311—623
21. Southern Utah................ 318-308—626