Edwards Adds Two Prep Stars To Men's Golf Program
BOULDER — University of Colorado men's golf coach Roy Edwards signed two high school stars in his 16th recruiting class, including the state's top prep performer and the Buffaloes first signee from the state of Texas in 12 years.
Hunter Swanson, a senior at Denver's Northfield High School and one of the most accomplished prep players in Colorado history, and Ty Holbrook, a senior at Granbury (Texas) High School who has an extensive prep and amateur resume, signed with the Buffaloes Wednesday.
"We are very excited about Hunter and Ty," Edwards said. "Hunter is the top player in the state and one of the best players in several years from Colorado. He is a very hard-working and tough-minded player who we expect will have a great career as a student-athlete at CU. Ty is one of the top players from Texas, which arguably is the most talent-rich region for golf anywhere in the world. He really caught our eye this summer as one of the most highly-accomplished and competitive players we have ever recruited.
Hunter Swanson, Denver, Colo. (Northfield)
Locally, Swanson was a four-time, first-team All-State performer (he was the first in Northfield's history), a three-time, first-team All-Denver Prep School League selection, a two-time DPS medalist and a Colorado Golf Hall of Fame "Future Famer" for its 2022 class. He started early in the game – he's a 12-year member of the First Tee of Green Valley Ranch.
He was the Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado's Player of the Year for both 2020 and 2021. This past summer finished second in a playoff in the Colorado Junior PGA Championship, and was also runner-up in the JGAC Tour Championship at Denver Country Club (72-73—145; +3) and the AJGA Junior Open at The Bridges in Montrose (65-71-70—206; -7). He reached the quarterfinals of the Colorado Golf Association's Match Play Championship (where he lost 2 & 1 to the eventual champion. Cole Nygren).
He also was the runner-up in the Colorado Junior PGA Championships (71-75-67—213, -3; his final round 67 was the low score in the event. But his accomplishments in Colorado are the tip of the iceberg.
Swanson was one of 81 First Tee Juniors nationwide selected to play in the PURE Insurance Championship at Pebble Beach (with 81 touring pros and 124 amateurs); he finished fifth with a 21-under par score of 195 (66-65-64; five off the lead). He tied for first but lost in a playoff in the First Tee National Championship (69-71-67—207, -9) in Clemson, S.C., where once again his third round 67 was the low round of the tournament.
He also was one of four players who represented Colorado at the Junior America's Cup this year, he qualified for the U.S. Junior Amateur and. He also had the privilege of playing with well-known professionals Annika Sorenstam and Retief Goosen in First Tee events.
"After a long summer of consideration in 2020, I had made the decision in the fall that I wanted to stay in Colorado to play collegiate golf," Swanson said. "I was introduced to golf here; I love to play golf here and I have been given so much support and opportunities from the various programs in the state it just made sense to be in Colorado.
"After meeting the coaches at CU, I am confident that they will be able to push me to the next level of golf and help me to grow as an individual," he continued. "When I first stepped foot on the campus, I felt an immediate sense of 'home.' I am very excited to be a Buff and hope to help the team break some new records."
Ty Holbrook, Granbury, Texas (Granbury)
Holbrook tied for third in the 5A state championship last May, carding a 72-71—143 (1-under) in a test of patience; the tournament was delayed four days due to weather. He advanced from regionals after placing third, and had finished second in the district meet, leading Granbury to a second place finish. GHS finished third in the state his freshman year in 2019. (Granbury is located about 25 miles southwest of Fort Worth.)
He earned first-team All-State honors as a junior, and was first-team All-Region and All-District both as a junior and freshman (averaging 71.4 and 72.3 strokes per rounds, respectively, those years. He averaged 73.1 as a sophomore, and owns a 70.8 mark currently as a senior with the majority of the season in the spring).
Holbrook tied for first in the 2021 AJGA Hale Irwin Colorado Junior with a 73-72-69--2014 (-2) effort, where he bested his future teammate Swanson by four shots. He tied for fourth in May's Bluebonnet Bowl Championship with a 9-under 135 score, his final round 66 (6-under) his best career round in competition. He also tied for eighth in the Texas Junior Golf Tour Championship in February (75-73—148; +4 as only one player was under par).
"Both coaches (Edwards and CU assistant Derek Tolan) are the best in their given positions, and paired with some of the nation's best facilities," Holbrook said. "I wanted to play for a college that would give me the best opportunity to reach the next level and with the help of two of the nation's best coaches, and I believe Colorado is that place."
Colorado hasn't had many Texans on its roster in its history; in fact, Holbrook will become just the sixth Buffalo from the state and the first since Paul McConnell signed in 2010.
"These two are great pieces to add to our existing team and we feel incredibly optimistic about our future and Hunter and Ty are a huge part of that," Edwards said.
Colorado has nine players on its current roster, and just two upperclassmen. Recently the Buffs' current freshman class was ranked No. 1 in the nation for their fall performance. The addition of Holbrook and Swanson will no doubt bolster that group.