Mark Hubbard has come close, but he’s never won a college golf tournament. What better place to start than one in the Denver metro area, where Hubbard is a resident?
On Monday, the San Jose State senior took a big step toward what could be his first college victory as he grabbed a three-stroke lead in the inaugural Mark Simpson Colorado Invitational at Colorado National Golf Club in Erie.
Hubbard carded rounds of 69-70 for a 5-under-par 142 total. He leads four players who are tied for second, including University of Colorado senior Luke Symons (70-72) and Northern Colorado senior Troy Sidabras (68-74).
“It’s really exciting,” Hubbard said of leading a tournament in his home state. “My family was out. There were all these rules officials I’ve known since I was about 8 years old. They’ve been supporting me forever. They feel like they’re family. It’s really cool to have this event out here.”
The tournament is named in honor of Mark Simpson, who spent nearly three decades as CU men’s golf coach before passing away in 2005 after battling cancer. Before Monday, 1993 was the last time CU hosted a full-field men’s invitational in Colorado.
All of the Division I programs in the state are participating, and going into Tuesday’s final round, Colorado State stands in second place in the 14-team field, while CU is seventh, Denver ninth, Air Force 10th and Northern Colorado 11th. New Mexico leads the way with a 576 total, while CSU is at 580.
When Hubbard first started perusing his team’s 2010-11 schedule, the Simpson tournament wasn’t his highest priority, but it certainly caught his attention.
“I was probably most excited about playing this tournament because it’s in Colorado and everyone is going to be out here,” Hubbard said.
Symons, winner of the 2008 CGA Match Play Championship, likewise is particularly motivated to do well at the Simpson Invitational. Not only is it CU’s home tournament, but this month marks Symons’ first college tournaments since May 2009. Since then, he’s undergone separate hip surgeries on his left and right side, the most recent coming in May.
“I feel great about it,” Symons said of his performance Monday. “This is just my second 36-hole day in over a year, so I’m still getting used to that. I was a little erratic in the afternoon and didn’t drive it that well off the tee, but I think that has a lot to do with my legs. I don’t really have my playing legs back. I was a little sore and a little stiff, but I’m expecting that to happen. I’m only just a little over four months out of surgery.”
Meanwhile, at the CJGA Collegiate High School Invitational, being held concurrently with the college event, David Oraee of Greeley leads the eight-player field with a 3-over-par 147 total.
Tuesday’s final round of the Simpson Invitational will begin with an 8 a.m. shotgun start.
Mark Simpson Colorado Invitational
At Par-72 Colorado National GC in Erie
Team scores — 1. New Mexico 300-276–576; 2. Colorado State 296-284–580; 3. (tie) Kansas 296-287–583; San Jose State 296-287–583; 5. Brigham Young 295-289–584; 6. New Mexico State 296-290–586; 7. Colorado 294-294–588; 8. Texas El Paso 302-292–594; 9. Denver 300-297–597; 10. Air Force 306-293–599; 11. Northern Colorado 297-303–600; 12. Wyoming 311-291–602; 13. Utah 304-300–604; 14. Southern Utah 329-303–632.
2. Colorado State 296-284″”580
6. Kirby Pettitt 74-69″”143; 11. Ryan Peterson 75-70″”145; 14. Zahkai Brown 71-75″”146; 14. Kory Harrell 76-70″”146; 69. Scott Newton 81-75″”156; Competing only as individuals: 14. Richard Schneider 71-75″”146; 75. Jackson Giro 81-77–158.
7. Colorado 294-294–588
2. Luke Symons 70-72–142; 29. Kevin Kring 75-73–148; 37. Derek Fribbs, 73-76–149; 56. Sebastian Heisele 76-77–153; 63. Pat Wilson 81-73–154; Competing only as individuals: 14. Brennan Dolan 72-74–146; 29. Jason Burstyn 76-72–148; 50. Johnny Widmer 77-75–152; 56. Michael Imperato 77-76–153.
9. Denver 300-297–597
29. Chun-Ji Kim 77-71–148; 37. Ole Ramsnes 75-74–159; 43. Troy Anderson 76-74–150; 45. C.J. Kim 74-77–151; 75. Klinton Krieger 76-82–158. Playing only as individuals: 65. Nick Lerner 75-80–155; 69. Kevin Gillick 83-73–156.
10. Air Force 306-293–599
23. Kyle Westmoreland 73-74–147; 29. Philip Colwell 76-72–148; 50. Caleb Leestma 80-72–152; 56. Andrew Hoops 78-75–153; 65. Kyle Bailey 79-76–155. Playing only as individuals: 14. Wes Denny 75-71–146; 29. Robert Belz 72-76–148.
11. Northern Colorado 297-303–600
2. Troy Sidabras 68-74–142; 37. Nick Bisogno 74-75–149; 63. Steve Bidne 76-78–154; 65. Ryan Boshoven 79-76–155; 71. Alberto Dell Anna 79-78–157. Competing only as individual: 45. Ben Krueger 76-75–151.
CJGA Collegiate High School Invitational
David Oraee, Greeley, 76-71–147; Cameron Harrell, Colorado Springs, 76-75–151; Ethan Freeman, Littleton 77-74–151; Ben Moore, Cherry Hills Village, 77-77–154; John Ahern, Morrison, 80-78–158; Chris Weistein, Highlands Ranch, 80-78–158; Steven Kupcho, Westminster, 82-77–159; Drew Trujillo, Montrose, 80-84–164.
