The University of Northern Colorado men’s golf team recorded its first major tournament team victory in four years and in the process earned a spot into the upcoming NCAA Regionals.
The Bears swept both the team and individual titles at a conference championship for the second time in five years, this time doing the honors in the eight-team Big Sky Conference Championship in Boulder City, Nev.
UNC prevailed by three strokes over Southern Utah, finishing with a three-day total of 10-under-par 854. It was the first team championship for the Northern Colorado men since they won the America Sky title in 2014.
Meanwhile, Andrew Romano, a senior from Lone Tree, landed the program’s first individual win in a major college tournament since Coby Welch won the Colorado Mark Simpson Invitational in September 2016, and UNC’s first conference title since Ben Krueger claimed the America Sky win in 2014.
Romano notched his first individual college victory after tying for the top spot with Fidel Concepcion of Southern Utah, then winning a playoff. Romano went 70-67-71 for an 8-under-par 208 total.
Welch (seventh, 216) and Li Chen (ninth, 217) also placed in the top 10 individually for UNC, while Sam Marley (11th, 220) and Big Sky Player of the Year Joshua Matz (18th, 223) rounded out the scores for the Bears.
“I am so happy for the guys, especially our two seniors, Sam and Andrew, who have seen this program through thick and thin,” coach Roger Prenzlow said.
Men’s Big Sky Championship
April 27-29, 2018 (final) in Boulder City, Nev.
1. (out of 8 teams) Northern Colorado 286-284-284–854
1. Andrew Romano 70-67-71–208
7. Coby Welch 71-72-73–216
9. Li Chen 76-72-69–217
11. Sam Marley 69-73-78–220
18. Joshua Matz 79-73-71–223
