Fifth-year senior Steven Kupcho finished a season-best fourth place individually and his University of Northern Colorado men’s team tied for second — also a season-best — on Tuesday at the Bears’ 2016 opener, the Pat Hicks Invitational in St. George, Utah.
Kupcho, the CGA Player of the Year in 2012, shot rounds of 72-68 at Sunbrook Golf Course to end up at 4-under-par 140, six strokes behind champion J.T. Simmons of Utah Valley. Kupcho carded nine birdies for the 36-hole event.
Joshua Matz also posted a top-10 finish for UNC, tying for ninth place at 142.
As a team, UNC moved up from fifth after round 1 to a runner-up showing in the 12-team field. The Bears’ second-round score of 4-under-par 284 was the best of the tournament by any team. They checked in at 579, in a three-way tie for second place, seven shots behind winner Utah Valley.
Pat Hicks Invitational
Feb. 8-9, 2016 (final) in St. George, Utah
2. (out of 12 teams) Northern Colorado 295
4. Steven Kupcho 72-68–140; 9. Joshua Matz 69-73–142; 18. Conner Barr 77-70–147; 36. Li Chen 77-73–150; 58. Sam Marley 81-76–157.
