With a Colorado resident setting the pace individually, the University of Colorado grabbed the team lead after the first two rounds of its Mark Simpson Colorado Invitational, a tournament the Buffs are trying to win for the fifth straight year.
Spencer Painton (pictured), who won a 5A state high school title at Regis Jesuit, is in good position to capture an individual college title for the first time. The senior shot rounds of 65-70 on Monday at Colorado National Golf Club in Erie to grab a two-stroke lead with a 9-under-par 135 total.
Painton made 13 birdies on Monday.
Joining Painton in the individual top 10 after two rounds are CU teammates Trevor Olkowski (ninth at 140 while competing for a second Buff team) and Daniel O’Loughlin (also ninth at 140).
Other local players in the top 10 individually after 36 holes are Air Force’s Bryant Falconello (second at 137), Coloradan Kyler Dunkle of Utah (third at 138),and Air Force’s Joseph Crisostomo (sixth at 139),
As for the team competition, CU will take a two-shot lead into Tuesday’s final round of the tourney which features 18 schools plus CU’s two squads. The Buffs’ top team recorded scores of 275-286 for a 15-under-par 561 total.
Wyoming is second at 563 and Utah third at 565.
Locally, Air Force is fourth at 570, Northern Colorado eighth at 577 and the second CU team 12th at 582.
The final group — featuring Painton, Dunkle, Falconello and Wyoming’s Quintin Pope — will tee off for Tuesday’s final round at 8:35 a.m.
For scores from the Mark Simpson Colorado Invite, CLICK HERE.
