It was a momentous day for Colorado-based teams and players on Wednesday at the Men’s NCAA Division II West/South Central Regional in Amarillo,Texas.
Two schools from the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference — Colorado-Colorado Springs and Colorado Christian — earned team berths into the NCAA DII Finals, which will be held May 21-25 in Muscle Shoals, Ala. And Colorado School of Mines junior George Markham prevailed on the second hole of a playoff to win the individual title in Amarillo. He’ll also be headed to nationals — the first Oredigger to do so since Jim Knous (2012), another Regional champion.
UCCS finished fourth in the 20-team regional field, while Colorado Christian tied for fifth and prevailed in a playoff against Sonoma State on the first extra hole to land the final team berth to nationals. It’s the first time since 2014 that UCCS has advanced.
Senior Colin Prater, winner of the 2016 CGA Amateur, and sophomore Tanner Comes led the way indivdiually for UCCS, tying for third place at 4-under-par 209. Sophomore Chase Carlson paced Colorado Christian by finishing 11th at 215.
On Wednesday, Markham fired his second straight 4-under-par 67 to close the tournament, ending up at 5-under 208. Then he defeated Emilio Gonzales of St. Mary’s of Texas on the second extra hole to land the individual title.
Markham (pictured with Mines coach Tyler Kimble) played his final eight holes of regulation in 4 under par.
Men’s NCAA Division II Super-Regionals
West/South Central Regional
May 7-9, 2018 (final) in Amarillo, Texas
4. (out of 20 teams) Colorado-Colorado Springs 294-287-290–871
3. Colin Prater 74-66-69–209
3. Tanner Comes 70-71-68–209
37. Jack Duguid 72-77-73–222
99. Peter Johns 78-78-80–236
105. Igancio De la Vega 83-73-85–241
5. Colorado Christian 291-286-301–878
11. Chase Carlson 71-69-75–215
19. Noah Woolsey 75-69-74–218
30. Nolan Backman 69-76-76–221
88. Josh Gardella 83-72-76–231
99. Eric Oneth 76-79-81–236
9. Colorado School of Mines 298-287-295–880
T1. George Markham 74-67-67–208
30. Tim Amundson 72-75-74–221
64. Jordan Bass 72-73-8–226
76. Nic Beno 80-74-75–229
89. Alan Berry 80-73-79–232
19. Colorado State University-Pueblo 314-294-301–909
37. Roy Carlson 79-70-73–222
53. Nathan McCann 76-75-73–224
83. Sam Barthram 79-72-79–230
94. Neil Tillman 80-78-76–234
106. Fraser Hughes 83-77-82–242
Also
22. Nicholas Tunuta, Regis 77-70-72–219
53. Grant Olinger, Colorado Mesa 78-72-74–224
