PALM DESERT, Calif. — The University of Colorado men’s golf team battled through heavy rain at time as well as gusting winds to end the first round in second place here Wednesday in the Wyoming Cowboy Intercollegiate.
The No. 47 Buffaloes, the highest ranked team competing here, turned in a 1-over 289 team score to trail No. 88 Fresno State by three strokes, as the Bulldogs were the only team under par, posting a 2-under 286. Utah and host Wyoming are tied for third (290), with Sacramento State rounding out the top five (291).
Colorado battled back over the last two holes, its four scorers for the round scoring five birdies; at one point two-thirds of the way, CU had actually dipped into 11th place, 7-over par and eight back of the lead.
“We got off to a good start, but in the middle of the round we had several mental mistakes on some of our approach shots,” head coach Roy Edwards said. “Uncharacteristic mistakes, like being short-sided with those approaches, which on this course, you’re likely going to make a bogey.
“But we really did a nice job finishing off the round – we did so by simply competing while being mentally tough,” he added. “We actually finished on some really hard holes and played some of our best golf, whereas we had a few high scores on the easier holes. Overall, we saw a lot of really nice shots today and can’t wait to get back out there tomorrow to see what we can do. We’re very familiar with this course and the guys know how to attack it.”
The Buffs finished second on the same course — the 7,305-yard, par-72 Classic Club Course – early last month in Wyoming’s World Match Play event.
Sophomore Jack Holland led the CU quintet on Wednesday, as he was one of just 11 players here to turn in a subpar round, carding a 2-under 70 that has him tied for fourth in the medalist race. He had an eagle – his second of the season and the only one in the 89-man field in the first round – three birdies and 11 pars against three bogeys. He played the four par-5’s at 3-under par, tied for the best Wednesday as well.
The eagle came on the 568-yard, par-5 4th hole, as his second shot was just off the green and he chipped…
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