Since then, it had been close but no cigar for the Buffs, who finished second twice and third three times at Eisenhower Golf Club. But on Sunday, they weren’t to be denied.

After trailing by one stroke after each of the first two rounds, CU overcame 2017 champion Wyoming to win by five at the 50th annual Gene Miranda Falcon Invitational. (The victorious team is pictured in a CU photo.)

It was the first outright team title for the Buffs in almost two years. CU technically tied for a championship last year at its own Mark Simpson Colorado Invitational, though Utah won a team playoff.

The Buffs also took home the individual title on Sunday as Daniel O’Loughlin, a junior from England, earned the top spot for his first individual college championship. 

CU, the Pac-12 runner-up last year, shot a 1-under-par 287 in Sunday’s final round at the Blue Course, posting a three-day total of 9-under 855, which was five better than Wyoming.

The Buffs dedicated the victory to recruit Oliver Jack, the 2016 3A state high school champion from Kent Denver, who is recovering after being involved in an auto accident in July. He’s deferred his enrollment at CU until the spring semester.

Host Air Force placed fourth on Sunday at 862, while Northern Colorado was sixth at 867.

CU put three players in the top five individually — O’Loughlin; and Trevor Olkowski of Grand Junction and Cole Krantz of Windsor, who tied for fifth place at 212. Krantz was competing only as an individual at Eisenhower.

Joining O’Loughlin and Olkowski on the Buffs’ victorious team were Ross Macdonald (216), Victor Bjorlow (220) and John Paterson (221).

O’Loughlin landed CU’s first outright individual title in a full-field Division I tournament since Philip Juel-Berg won this same event in 2015. In the interim, CU players have shared DI titles twice, won the three-team Ballyneal Challenge, and finished first in a Division II tournament. But this time O’Loughlin was alone atop the scoreboard in a 16-team DI event.

At the Falcon Invite, O’Loughlin was remarkably steady throughout the season-opening tournament, going 70-70-69 for a 7-under 209 total, which was one better than New Mexico State’s Tadhg Campbell. O’Loughlin, who birdied his final hole from 10 feet, finished the 54-hole event with 12 birdies and five bogeys.

“It feels good to finally win; being the first one is really special,” O’Loughlin told CUBuffs.com. “It’s such a big relief, and the team winning as well made it that much more special.”

Joining Olkowski and Krantz as Colorado residents who recorded top-five finishes on Sunday was UNC’s Coby Welch, who placed third at 211 after racking up 18 birdies for the week. In other words, he birdied 33 percent of his holes for the tournament.

Leading the way for Air Force was Joseph Crisostomo, who tied for fifth at 212 after closing with a 67, Sunday’s low round.

Gene Miranda Falcon Invitational
Sept. 7-9, 2018 (final) at Eisenhower GC at Air Force Academy

1. (out of 16 teams) Colorado 285-283-287–855
1. Daniel O’Loughlin 70-70-69–209
5. Trevor Olkowski 71-67-74–212
17. Ross Macdonald 74-71-71–216
36. Victor Bjorlow 71-75-74–220
41. John Paterson 73-75-73–221
Competing Only as Individuals
5. Cole Krantz 71-71-70–212
30. Wilson Belk 73-73-73–219
56. Anson Kuznik 76-74-74–224
76. Kristoffer Max 75-80-74–229

4. Air Force 288-288-286–862
5. Joseph Crisostomo 72-73-67–212
17. Andy Germann 74-67-75–216
17. Joshua Wu 69-74-73–216
36. Turner Howe 73-74-73–220
41. Tate Tatom 74-74-73–221
Competing Only as Individuals
23. Luke Trujillo 74-70-73–217
69. Colter Baca 74-78-75–227
82. Jonathan Farmer 73-82-78–233

6. Northern Colorado 292-283-292–867
3. Coby Welch 72-67-72–211
17. Li Chen 71-71-74–216
36. Joshua Matz 75-73-72–220
50. Marcus Tait 77-72-74–223
63. Jack Castiglia 74-77-74–221
Competing Only as Individual
76. Nick Sharp 77-74-78–229

For complete results, CLICK HERE.

For all the local Division I golf results, CLICK HERE.

In addition, all three of the Colorado-based teams competing in the 50th annual Falcon Invite are in the top five out of the 16-school field.

The University of Colorado remained in the same place it was after round 1 — in second place, one out of the lead. The Buffs shot a 5-under-par 283 on Saturday to check in at 8-under 568, one behind defending champion Wyoming.

In fourth place with one round left is Northern Colorado (575), while host Air Force (576) is in fifth.

CU sophomore Trevor Olkowski (left in a CU photo), of Grand Junction, shot a bogey-free 5-under-par 67 on Saturday and moved into a share of second place at 6-under 138. He trails only Mike McGilton of New Mexico State, who stands at 135.

Other Coloradans in the top 10 individually are UNC’s Coby Welch (139, fifth place, after a 67) and Li Chen (142, 10th place) and CU’s Cole Krantz (142, 10th place). Krantz is competing as an individual at Eisenhower Golf Club.

Also in the top 10 from local teams are Daniel O’Loughlin from CU (140, sixth place) and Andy Germann from Air Force (141, seventh place).

Gene Miranda Falcon Invitational
Sept. 7-9, 2018 at Eisenhower GC at Air Force Academy

2. (out of 16 teams) Colorado 285-283–568
2. Trevor Olkowski 71-67–138
6. Daniel O’Loughlin 70-70–140
22. Ross Macdonald 74-71–145
30. Victor Bjorlow 71-75–146
48. John Paterson 73-75–148
Competing Only as Individuals
10. Cole Krantz 71-71–142
30. Wilson Belk 73-73–146
61. Anson Kuznik 76-74–150
81. Kristoffer Max 75-80–155

4. Northern Colorado 292-283–575
5. Coby Welch 72-67–139
10. Li Chen 71-71–142
48. Joshua Matz 75-73–148
57. Marcus Tait 77-72–149
63. Jack Castiglia 74-77–151
Competing Only as Individual
63. Nick Sharp 77-74–151

5. Air Force 288-288–576
7. Andy Germann 74-67–141
15. Joshua Wu 69-74–143
22. Joseph Crisostomo 72-73–145
39. Turner Howe 73-74–147
48. Tate Tatom 74-74–148
Competing Only as Individuals
19. Luke Trujillo 74-70–144
69. Colter Baca 74-78–152
81. Jonathan Farmer 73-82–155

For complete results, CLICK HERE.

For all the local Division I golf results, CLICK HERE.

The Buffs, winner of this tournament six times — but not since 2012 — shot a 3-under-par 285 and trail only New Mexico State, while being tied with Weber State. The 54-hole event will continue through Sunday.

Host Air Force (288) is in sixth place in the 16-team field, while Northern Colorado (292) is ninth.

Daniel O’Loughlin (2-under-par 70, seventh place), Grand Junction’s Trevor Olkowski (71, 10th place) and Victor Bjorlow (71, 10th place) are in the top 10 individually for CU.

Joshua Wu led the way for Air Force with a 69 that left him in third place. Li Chen of Westminster paced UNC with a 71.

Tadhg Campbell of New Mexico State holds the individual lead after a 5-under-par 67.
 

Gene Miranda Falcon Invitational
Sept. 7-9, 2018 at Eisenhower GC at Air Force Academy

2. (out of 16 teams) Colorado 285
7. Daniel O’Loughlin 70
10. Trevor Olkowski 71
10. Victor Bjorlow 71
33. John Patterson 73
47. Ross Macdonald 74
Competing Only as Individuals
10. Cole Krantz 71
33. Wilson Belk 73
58. Kristoffer Max 75
63. Anson Kuznik 76

6. Air Force 288
3. Joshua Wu 69
21. Joseph Crisostomo 72
33. Turner Howe 73
47. Tate Tatom 74
47. Andy Germann 74
Competing Only as Individuals
33. Jonathan Farmer 73
47. Colter Baca 74
47. Luke Trujillo 74

9. Northern Colorado 292
10. Li Chen 71
21. Coby Welch 72
47. Jack Castiglia 74
58. Joshua Matz 75
69. Marcus Tait 77
Competing Only as Individual
69. Nick Sharp 77

For complete results, CLICK HERE.

For all the local Division I golf results, CLICK HERE.

Starting on Friday (Sept. 7), in the span of just over a month, seven multi-day NCAA Division I events will be held in Colorado, and there’s another one of the single-day variety. There are five on the men’s side and three on the women’s.

In fact, in the same week, Colorado State University is hosting both a men’s and a women’s tournament, though they finish on different days (Sept. 18 and 19).

Here’s the rundown:

MEN

Sept. 7-9, Gene Miranda Falcon Invitational, Eisenhower Golf Club north of Colorado Springs.

Sept. 17-18, Ram Masters Invitational, Fort Collins Country Club.

Sept. 24-25, Mark Simpson Colorado Invitational, Colorado National Golf Club in Erie.

Oct. 1 — University of Northern Colorado individual event, Greeley Country Club.

Oct. 8-9, Paintbrush Invitational, Colorado Golf Club in Parker.

WOMEN

Sept. 17-19, Ptarmigan Ram Classic, Ptarmigan Country Club in Fort Collins.

Sept. 24-26, Golfweek Conference Challenge, Red Sky Golf Club in Wolcott.

Oct. 5-7, Ron Moore Intercollegiate, Highlands Ranch Golf Club.

Of the six of those team events that were conducted in 2017 — the Paintbrush Invitational was canceled due to weather — four Colorado-based schools claimed either team titles outright or were tied for the top spot at the end of regulation.

The University of Denver women won the Women’s Golfweek Conference Challenge and the Ron Moore Intercollegiate, while the Colorado State University men won for the fourth straight year at their Ram Masters Invitational. The University of Colorado men were tied at the end of regulation at their Mark Simpson Colorado Invitational, though Utah defeated CU in a team playoff.

This season, every Colorado-based DI team except one (the CU women) will compete in at least one tournament in the Centennial State.

Here’s a brief look at the nine Division I golf programs in Colorado.

CU MEN

Season Opener: Sept. 7-9, Gene Miranda Falcon Invitational, Eisenhower GC.

Division I Tournaments in Colorado:
— Sept. 7-9, Gene Miranda Falcon Invitational, Eisenhower GC.
— Sept. 24-25, Mark Simpson Colorado Invitational, Colorado National GC.
— Oct. 8-9, Paintbrush Invitational, Colorado GC.

Conference Championship: April 22-24, Men’s Pac-12 Championship, Eugene, Ore.

Notable: Coloradans on the active fall roster include Wilson Belk (Colorado Springs), Cole Krantz (Windsor), Ross Macdonald (Castle Rock) and Trevor Olkowski (Grand Junction). … Coloradan Oliver Jack, the 2016 3A state high school champion from Kent Denver, was scheduled to join the Buffs this fall, but he was involved in an automobile accident over the summer. CU coach Roy Edwards said Jack remains in the hospital recovering and has deferred his enrollment at CU until the spring semester of 2019. … Among CU’s key losses from last season were then-seniors Yannik Paul, Spencer Painton and John Souza. Paul had a CU single-season-record 70.24 stroke average last season. Painton is a student-assistant coach this season. … Last spring, CU posted its best finish in the Pac-12 tournament since joining the conference by placing second.

CU WOMEN

Season Opener: Sept. 10-11, Branch Law Firm/Dick McGuire Invitational, Albuquerque, N.M.

Division I Tournaments in Colorado: None.

Conference Championship: April 15-17, Women’s Pac-12 Championship, Palos Verdes Estates, Calif.

Notable: The Buffs, who finished 19th at the NCAA Division I Finals last spring, are 21st in the national preseason women’s college rankings published by Golfweek’s Lance Ringler, who puts junior Robyn Choi as a third-team preseason All-American. … Choi, who has qualified for the last two U.S. Women’s Opens, finished 21st individually in the Women’s NCAA Division I Finals in May. She recently advanced to Stage II of LPGA Q-school. … Junior Kirsty Hodgkins represented Australia in last week’s Women’s World Amateur Team Championship, finishing 92nd individually out of 170 players. … Coloradans on CU’s roster include Jaclyn Murray (Grand Junction), Gillian Vance (Lakewood) and Kelsey Webster (Boulder). … A key loss to graduation was Brittany Fan, who had the second-best stroke average on the team last season.

CSU MEN

Season Opener: Sept. 7-9, Carpet Capital Collegiate, Rocky Face, Ga.

Division I Tournaments in Colorado:
— Sept. 17-18, Ram Masters Invitational, Fort Collins CC.
— Sept. 24-25, Colorado Mark Simpson Invitational, Colorado National GC.
— Oct. 1, UNC Individual Event, Greeley CC.
— Oct. 8-9, Paintbrush Invitational, Colorado GC.

Conference Championship: April 26-28, Mountain West Conference Championship, Tucson, Ariz.

Notable: CSU is No. 28 in the nation in preseason rankings published by Golfweek’s Lance Ringler. … Coloradans on the roster include Davis Bryant (Aurora), AJ Ott (Fort Collins) and Jake Staiano (Cherry Hills Village). … Ott won the CGA Match Play and qualified for the U.S. Amateur over the summer. … For the first time in seven years, the Rams won’t play in the Gene Miranda Falcon Invitational to start the season, instead competing in a tournament in Georgia this weekend. … CSU has finished second in the Mountain West Conference tournament each of the last two years. … The Rams lost 2017-18 seniors Max Oelfke and Colton Yates, who ranked second and fifth on the team in stroke average, respectively.

CSU WOMEN

Season Opener: Sept. 17-19, Ptarmigan Ram Classic, Ptarmigan CC.

Division I Tournaments in Colorado:
— Sept. 17-19, Ptarmigan Ram Classic, Ptarmigan CC.
— Oct. 5-7, Ron Moore Intercollegiate, Highlands Ranch GC.

Conference Championship: April 15-17, Women’s Mountain West Conference Championship, Rancho Mirage, Calif.

Notable: CSU will start the season with a new head coach as Laura Cilek replaces Annie Young (READ MORE). Pro golfer Zack Byrd will be her assistant coach. Byrd most recently played on the Sunshine Tour in South Africa. … Katrina Prendergast and Ellen Secor won the U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball title in May, and Prendergast finished second last week in the CoBank Colorado Women’s Open. Secor won the Oregon Women’s Public Links title in 2018 and placed 13th last week in the CWO. … The Rams didn’t lose any seniors to graduation in 2018. … CSU finished third in the Mountain West Conference tournament last spring, marking the Rams’ best showing in that event since 2010.

UNC MEN

Season Opener: Sept. 7-9, Gene Miranda Falcon Invitational, Eisenhower GC.

Division I Tournaments in Colorado:
— Sept. 7-9, Gene Miranda Falcon Invitational, Eisenhower GC.
— Sept. 17-18, Ram Masters Invitational, Fort Collins CC.
— Sept. 24-25, Colorado Mark Simpson Invitational, Colorado National GC.
— Oct. 1, UNC Individual Event, Greeley CC.
— Oct. 8-9, Paintbrush Invitational, Colorado GC.

Conference Championship: April 26-28, Big Sky Championship, Boulder City, Nev.

Notable: Coloradans on the roster include Jack Castiglia (Lakewood), Li Chen (Westminster), Barrett Jones (Eagle), Owen Pasvogel (Colorado Springs), Marcus Tait (Littleton) and Coby Welch (Highlands Ranch). … Welch qualified for the U.S. Amateur this summer, a year after Chen did likewise. … Castiglia won the Colorado Junior Match Play in early August. … In the spring, UNC won its first conference title since 2014 in capturing a Big Sky crown and advancing to NCAA Regionals. … The Bears lost Sam Marley and Andrew Romano, who were seniors last season.

UNC WOMEN

Season Opener: Sept. 10-11, Hobble Creek Classic, Orem, Utah.

Division I Tournaments in Colorado:
— Sept. 17-19, Ptarmigan Ram Classic, Ptarmigan CC.
— Oct. 5-7, Ron Moore Intercollegiate, Highlands Ranch GC.

Conference Championship: April 19-21, Women’s Big Sky Conference Championship, Boulder City, Nev.

Notable: Coloradans on the roster include Aili Bundy (Fort Collins), Jenna Chun (Highlands Ranch) and Morgan Sahm (Centennial). … UNC finished ninth last year at the Women’s Big Sky Conference Championship. … The Bears lost Christina Ferreira, who was a senior last season.

DU MEN

Season Opener: Sept. 17-18, Ram Masters Invitational, Fort Collins CC.

Division I Tournaments in Colorado:
— Sept. 17-18, Ram Masters Invitational, Fort Collins CC.
— Oct. 8-9, Paintbrush Invitational, Colorado GC

Conference Championship: April 28-30, Summit League Championship, Newton, Kan.

Notable: Coloradans on the roster include Cal McCoy (Highlands Ranch) and Jackson Solem (Longmont). … DU lost two of its mainstays from Regis Jesuit High School, Chris Korte and Jake Kelley, both of whom were seniors last season. … Denver finished second in last year’s Summit League Championship. … Brandon Wilkins becomes Erik Billinger’s assistant coach after previously being an assistant at Abilene Christian.

DU WOMEN

Season Opener: Sept. 24-26, Golfweek Conference Challenge, Red Sky GC in Wolcott.

Division I Tournaments in Colorado:
— Sept. 24-26, Golfweek Conference Challenge, Red Sky GC in Wolcott.
— Oct. 5-7, Ron Moore Women’s Intercollegiate, Highlands Ranch GC.

Conference Championship: April 21-23, Women’s Summit League Championship, Newton, Kan.

Notable: Head coach Lindsay Kuhle recently signed a new contract with DU that extends to 2023. … DU will defend team titles at two Colorado-based tournaments, the Women’s Golfweek Conference Challenge at Red Sky in Wolcott, and its own Ron Moore Women’s Intercollegiate at Highlands Ranch Golf Club. Those are the Pioneers’ first two tournaments of the season. … Mikayla Tatman, a former CSU golfer and a former intern for the CGA and the Colorado PGA, joins Kuhle’s staff as an assistant coach. Tatman, runner-up in the 2014 CWGA Stroke Play, has been a teacher and instructor for ExperienceGolf at CommonGround Golf Course in Aurora. … Also helping out with the DU women’s squad — on a volunteer basis — will be PGA professional Don Hurter from Castle Pines Golf Club. … One Coloradan is on the roster, Mary Weinstein (Highlands Ranch). Weinstein finished 17th last week at the CoBank Colorado Women’s Open.

AIR FORCE ACADEMY MEN

Season Opener: — Sept. 7-9, Gene Miranda Falcon Invitational, Eisenhower GC.

Division I Tournaments in Colorado:
— Sept. 7-9, Gene Miranda Falcon Invitational, Eisenhower GC.

Conference Championship: April 26-28, Mountain West Conference Championship, Tucson, Ariz.

Notable: A year after playing four tournaments in Colorado, Air Force has just one this fall season, its own Gene Miranda Falcon Invitational this weekend. … The one Coloradan on the roster is former 4A state high school champion Luke Trujillo (a freshman from Colorado Springs). … Air Force finished 10th last season in the Mountain West Conference Championship. … Air Force lost Dane Hankamer and Todd Millard to graduation.
 

On Monday, Whitney earned one of four available spots out of a field of 67 into the AT&T Byron Nelson, which begins Thursday in Dallas. In a Monday qualifier in Prosper, Texas, Whitney shot a 5-under-par 67 and birdied the second playoff hole to land the fourth and final qualifying spot.

Whitney finished with seven birdies and a double bogey in regulation.

The 28-year-old former Air Force officer, who recently moved from Colorado to Little Elm, Texas, will be making the third PGA Tour start of his career. He missed the cut in the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in November and made his first PGA Tour check in January by finishing 67th in the CareerBuilder Challenge, where the 2006 graduate of La Quinta High School was given a sponsor exemption.

Whitney (pictured) spent 2017 on the Web.com Tour, competing in 15 events, with a best showing of fifth place in the Lincoln Land Charity Championship in June. He finished 89th on the Web.com season-long money list.

Also among those in the field for the Byron Nelson is Colorado resident David Duval, the former world No. 1 who will be making just his third PGA Tour start of the season. He missed the cut in both the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.

(May 18 Update: Both Whitney and Duval missed the 36-hole cut. Whitney posted rounds of 72-74 for a 4-over-par 146 total, while Duval went 80-73–153. A 138 total was necessary to advance to the weekend.)

The regular season for Colorado-based college golf teams is over, with the postseason cranking up over the next two-plus weeks as conference championships are held.

Then for the better programs and/or players, there will be NCAA regional berths and, ideally, spots in the national finals.

While no Colorado teams made it to the NCAA Finals last year, Jennifer Kupcho (Wake Forest) finished runner-up individually in the Women’s NCAA Championship, while fellow Coloradan Wyndham Clark was part of the second-place team (Oregon) in the men’s NCAA Finals after placing 51st individually.

In NCAA Division II, Coloradan Alex Trask of William Jewell ended up 17th in the women’s finals, while Mary Weinstein of Regis (who has since transferred to the University of Denver) was 22nd.

In Division III, Colorado resident Mackenzie Cohen helped Rhodes College claim the NCAA D-III national title while she finished 25th individually. Fellow Coloradan Madison McCambridge (Wisconsin-Stouth) was 58th.

Last year, this time of the college season gained considerable local attention with Boulder Country Club and the University of Colorado hosting the men’s Pac-12 Conference Championship.

Meanwhile, the University of Denver women extended their impressive streak of consecutive conference titles to 14 — with the NCAA regional berths that go with them — by claiming victory in the Summit League. The Pioneers have captured four Summit League championships, plus nine in the Sun Belt Conference and one in the WAC.

Let’s take a brief look at what awaits for the 2018 conference championships that include Colorado-based teams. (The tournaments are listed by date):

Mountain West Women, April 16-18 in Rancho Mirage, Calif.

Last Year’s Conference Finish by Colorado State: Eighth out of nine teams, with Katrina Prendergast placing 15th individually to lead the Rams.

CSU in the National Team Rankings: 84th Golfstat, 86th Golfweek.

Top Ram in National Individual Rankings: Katrina Prendergast 235th Golfweek.

Top CSU Team Finishes This Season: Three thirds, fifth.

Top-5 CSU Individual Finishes in Division I Tournaments This Season: Katrina Prendergast win, second; Ellen Secor second, fifth.

Best Season Stroke Average for CSU: Katrina Prendergast 73.77.

Mountain West Men, April 20-22 in Bremerton, Wash.

Last Year’s Conference Finishes by Colorado State/Air Force: CSU second out of 11 teams, with Colton Yates and Blake Canyon tying for eighth place individually; Air Force Academy seventh out of 11 teams, with Sunwoo Choi placing sixth individually.

CSU/Air Force in the National Team Rankings: CSU 41st Golfweek, 44th Golfstat; Air Force 190th Golfweek, 197th Golftat.

Top Ram/Falcon in National Individual Rankings: CSU’s AJ Ott 178th Golfstat, 182nd Golfweek; AFA’s Tate Tatom 668th Golfweek.

Top CSU/Air Force Team Finishes This Season: CSU win, second, third, fifth; AFA sixth.

Top-5 CSU/Air Force Individual Finishes in Division I Tournaments This Season: CSU’s Max Oelfke second; CSU’s AJ Ott fourth; CSU’s Jake Staiano fifth; AFA’s Bryant Falconello fourth, AFA’s Joseph Crisostomo fifth.

Best Season Stroke Average for CSU/Air Force: CSU’s AJ Ott 71.63; AFA’s Tate Tatom 73.27.

Big Sky Women, April 20-22 in Boulder City, Nev.

Last Year’s Conference Finish by the Northern Colorado: Fifth out of 12 teams. Baile Winslow placed 11th to lead UNC.

UNC in the National Team Rankings: 137th Golfstat, 146th Golfweek.

Top Bear in National Individual Rankings: Morgan Sahm 603rd Golfweek.

Top UNC Team Finishes This Season: Two thirds, fourth, fifth.

Top-5 UNC Individual Finishes in Division I Tournaments This Season: none.

Pac-12 Women, April 22-24 in Seattle

Last Year’s Conference Finish by the University of Colorado: Second out of 11 teams. Kirsty Hodgkins led the way individually for CU, finishing fourth.

CU in the National Team Rankings: 20th Golfweek, 25th Golfstat.

Top Buff in National Individual Rankings: Robyn Choi (34th Golfweek, 38th Golfstat).

Top CU Team Finishes This Season: One win, one second, one third, two fourths, one fifth.

Top-5 CU Individual Finishes in Division I Tournaments This Season: Kirsty Hodgkins win, second; Brittany Fan win; Robyn Choi second, three thirds, fifth.

Best Season Stroke Average for CU: Robyn Choi 72.79.

Summit League Women, April 22-24 in Nebraska City

Last Year’s Conference Finish by the University of Denver: Victory out of nine teams. Jessica Carty led the way for DU by placing second individually.

DU in the National Team Rankings: 45th Golfweek, 49th Golfstat.

Top Pioneers in National Individual Rankings: Lauren Whyte 126th Golfweek, 175th Golfstat; Mary Weinstein 129th Golfweek, 153rd Golfstat.

Top DU Team Finishes This Season: Two wins, fourth.

Top-5 DU Individual Finishes in major Division I Tournaments This Season: Sophie Newlove fourth.

Best Season Stroke Average for DU: Mary Weinstein 73.84.

Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Men, April 22-24 in Chandler, Ariz.

Last Year’s Conference Winner: Colorado-Colorado Springs, out of eight teams. Colin Prater of UCCS was the individual champion.

Colorado-Based Teams Ranked in Top 25 Nationally: Colorado-Colorado Springs 12th Golfstat.

Top Colorado-based RMAC Players in National Individual Rankings: Colin Prater, UCCS, 26th Golfstat; Chase Carlson, Colorado Christian 35th Golfstat; Jack Duguid, UCCS 86th Golfstat.

Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Women, April 22-24 in Chandler, Ariz.

Last Year’s Conference Winner: Regis, out of 12 teams. Jacquelyn Porman of CSU-Pueblo captured the individual title.

Colorado-Based Teams Ranked in Top 25 Nationally: none. Colorado-Colorado Springs is 42nd.

Top Colorado-based RMAC Players in National Individual Rankings: Courtney Ewing, CSU-Pueblo 57th Golfstat; Alex Baldwin, UCCS 70th Golfstat.

Pac-12 Men, April 23-25 in Rolling Hills Estates, Calif.

Last Year’s Conference Finish by the University of Colorado: Seventh out of 12 teams. Spencer Painton and Ethan Freeman tied for 20th individually to lead CU.

CU in the National Team Rankings: 43rd Golfweek, 43rd Golfstat.

Top Buff in National Individual Rankings: Yannik Paul (101st Golfstat, 106th Golfweek).

Top CU Team Finishes This Season: T1 (lost in playoff), three thirds.

Top-5 CU Individual Finishes in Division I Tournaments This Season: Yannik Paul win, third and fifth; Spencer Painton second; Daniel O’Loughlin second and fifth.

Best Season Stroke Average for CU: Yannik Paul 70.52.

Big Sky Men, April 27-29 in Boulder City, Nev.

Last Year’s Conference Finish by the Northern Colorado: Second out of eight teams. Coby Welch led the way individually for UNC, placing second.

UNC in the National Team Rankings: 152nd Golfstat, 158th Golfweek.

Top Bear in National Individual Rankings: Joshua Matz 351st Golfweek.

Top UNC Team Finish This Season: Fourth.

Top-5 UNC Individual Finishes in Division I Tournaments This Season: Coby Welch fourth; Joshua Matz fifth.

Summit League Men, April 29-May 1 in Newton, Kan.

Last Year’s Conference Finish by the University of Denver: Sixth out of nine teams. Petter Mikalsen finished ninth individually to pace DU.

DU in the National Team Rankings: 119th Golfstat, 126th Golfweek.

Top Pioneer in National Individual Rankings: Chris Korte 183rd Golfweek, 186th Golfstat.

Top DU Team Finish This Season: Sixth.

Top-5 DU Individual Finishes in Division I Tournaments This Season: Chris Korte fifth.

Best Season Stroke Average for DU: Chris Korte 72.57.
 

The former Air Force Academy golfer, a 2006 graduate of La Quinta High School, learned a couple of days ago about getting his spot in the CareerBuilder Challenge, which starts Thursday in La Quinta.

“Excited to be back in my hometown and to tee it with some of the best golfers in the world! Thank you for the opportunity!” the 28-year-old said via Twitter.

Whitney (pictured) formerly served as a missile operator at a nuclear intercontinental ballistic missile site near F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, Wyo.

“We’re excited to be able to offer Tom a sponsor exemption into the tournament,” said Jeff Sanders, executive director of the CareerBuilder Challenge. “We all owe a debt of gratitude to our service members, and we’re happy to be able to help a local guy like Tom launch his golf career.”

The CareerBuilder will be the second PGA Tour start for Whitney, who won a Monday qualifier for the Shriners Hospital for Children Open in Las Vegas in October. He missed the 36-hole cut there.

Whitney spent 2017 on the Web.com Tour, competing in 15 events, with a best showing of fifth place in the Lincoln Land Charity Championship in June. He finished 89th on the Web.com season-long money list.
 

Seeking their first league title since 2010 — and the automatic NCAA Regional berth that would have gone with it — the Rams fell just short of the mark Sunday in Tucson, Ariz.

After going into the final round with a two-stroke lead — and still being ahead with nine holes left — CSU was edged on the final hole and had to settle for a runner-up finish, one stroke behind UNLV, which successfully defended its title. Five teams in the 11-school field finished the 54-hole event at least 14 under par, with UNLV posting an 18-under-par total and Colorado State checking in at 17 under.

CSU and UNLV were tied for the team lead with just the final group of the day left on the course. Unfortunately for the Rams, senior Blake Cannon bogeyed the 470-yard, par-4 18th, leaving CSU one back of UNLV.

Cannon and teammate Colton Yates led the way for the Rams, tying for eighth place at 5-under 211. Colorado resident Jake Staiano was 11th at 212. (April 27 Update: Staiano was subsequently named to the All-Mountain West Conference team.)

Meanwhile, Sunwoo Choi of the Air Force Academy placed sixth individually at 210 as the Falcons were seventh in the team standings.

At the Women’s Summit League Championship in Nebraska City, where the University of Denver is seeking its 14th straight conference title, DU grabbed a one-stroke lead over South Dakota State following the first round.

The Pioneers opened with an 8-over-par 296. Senior Jessica Carty, the defending champion, posted an even-par 72 which left her in second place, three strokes behind Megan Mingo of South Dakota State.

At the Women’s Big Sky Championship in Boulder City, Nev., Northern Colorado wrapped up its season with a fifth-place finish out of the 12-team field. UNC posted a 58-over-par 922 total. Sacramento State won at 900. Baile Winslow led the way for UNC individually, tying for 11th place.

Men’s Mountain West Conference Championship
April 21-23, 2017 (final) in Tucson, Ariz.
2. (out of 11 teams) Colorado State 283-280-284–847
8. Blake Cannon 70-70-71–211
8. Colton Yates 71-71-69–211
11. Jake Staiano 71-70-71–212
20. AJ Ott 71-72-73–216
20. Max Oelfke 74-69-73–216

7. Air Force Academy 296-286-289–871
6. Sunwoo Choi 72-68-70–210
22. Andy Germann 73-74-70–217
36. Joshua Wu 72-71-78–221
49. Dane Hankamer 79-73-76–228
52. Brenden Bone 80-77-73–230

Also
22. Coloradan Tanner Jenson, Utah State 69-73-75–217
38. Coloradan Glenn Workman, Wyoming 72-74-76–222

Women’s Big Sky Championship
April 21-23, 2017 (final) in Boulder City, Nev.
5. (out of 12 teams) Northern Colorado 311-302-309–922
11. Baile Winslow 77-75-78–230
18. Morgan Sahm 78-79-75–232
21. Marisa Hisaki 82-72-79–233
27. Christina Ferrreira 74-76-85–235
45. Kala Keltz 85-79-77–241

Also
34. Coloradan Delaney Elliott, Montana State 81-81-79–241
42. Coloradan Jaylee Tait, Montana State 81-88-74–243

Women’s Summit League Championship
April 23-25, 2017 in Nebraska City
1. (out of 9 teams) Denver 296
2. Jessica Carty 72
3. Sophie Newlove 74
4. Mariell Bruun 75
4. Lauren Whyte 75
4. Jessica Dreesbeimdieke 75

Note: Just prior to the tournament, DU seniors Jessica Carty and Mariell Bruun were named to the All-Summit League first team and junior teammate Lauren Whyte to the second team.

Women’s Big 12 Conference Championship

April 21-23, 2017 (final) in San Antonio, Texas
38. Coloradan Hannah Wood, Oklahoma 80-78-77–235
 

Through two rounds of the Mountain West Conference Championship in Tucson, Ariz., every score that CSU has counted toward its team total has been under-par. On Saturday, the Rams went 69 (Max Oelfke), 70 (Jake Staiano), 70 (Blake Cannon) and 71 (Colton Yates) for an 8-under-par 280 total that left CSU with a two-stroke lead over UNLV and Boise State going into Sunday’s final round.

Every one of Colorado State’s players is in the top 15 individually in the 55-man tournament. Senior Blake Cannon (4-under-par 140) is fifth, Staiano (141) eighth, Yates (142) 11th, and freshman AJ Ott and Oelfke (each at 143) 15th.

Joining Cannon (pictured) and Staiano in the top 10 individually after 36 holes is Sunwoo Choi of the Air Force Academy (fifth place, 140 after a 68 on Saturday). As a team, Air Force stands in eighth place, 19 strokes behind CSU.

Brian Humphreys of Boise State holds the individual lead at 9-under-par 135.

Meanwhile, at the Women’s Big Sky Championship in Boulder City, Nev., Northern Colorado remained in position for a solid finish as the Bears stand fourth out of a dozen teams.

UNC owns a 613 total, which leaves the Bears 15 shots behind leader Sacramento State. Junior Christina Ferreira remains the top individual for Northern Colorado as she sits in seventh place at 4-over-par 150.
 

Men’s Mountain West Conference Championship
April 21-23, 2017 in Tucson, Ariz.
1. (out of 11 teams) Colorado State 283-280–563
5. Blake Cannon 70-70–140
8. Jake Staiano 71-70–141
11. Colton Yates 71-71–142
15. AJ Ott 71-72–143
15. Max Oelfke 74-69–143

8. Air Force Academy 296-286–582
5. Sunwoo Choi 72-68–140
15. Joshua Wu 72-71–143
35. Andy Germann 73-74–147
46. Dane Hankamer 79-73–152
55. Brenden Bone 80-77–157

Also
11. Coloradan Tanner Jenson, Utah State 69-73–142
29. Coloradan Glenn Workman, Wyoming 72-74–146

Women’s Big Sky Championship
April 21-23, 2017 in Boulder City, Nev.
4. Northern Colorado 311-302–613
7. Christina Ferrreira 74-76–150
11. Baile Winslow 77-75–152
15. Marisa Hisaki 82-72–154
24. Morgan Sahm 78-79–157
37. Kala Keltz 85-79–164

Also
31. Coloradan Delaney Elliott, Montana State 81-81–162
49. Coloradan Jaylee Tait, Montana State 81-88–169

Women’s Big 12 Conference Championship
April 21-23, 2017 in San Antonio, Texas
42. Coloradan Hannah Wood, Oklahoma 80-78–158
 

On Tuesday, Staiano notched a top-11 individual finish for the third time in his last four tournaments by placing fifth out of 111 players at the Wyoming Cowboy Classic in Chandler, Ariz.

Staiano (pictured) was one of four players with major Colorado connections to record top-10 finishes on Tuesday. Brenden Bone of the Air Force Academy tied for sixth at the Cowboy Classic, while University of Colorado teammates Brittany Fan and Kirsty Hodgkins shared fourth place in the Silverado Showdown in Napa, Calif.

Staiano, the 2013 CGA Junior Match Play champion who advanced to match play at the 2015 U.S. Amateur, broke par all three rounds of the Cowboy Classic, closing with a bogey-free 3-under-par 69 for a 7-under 209 total. He ended up three strokes behind champion Zach Smith of UC Santa Barbara.

Staiano has now posted five top-11 individual finishes this college season.

As a team, CSU placed sixth in the 18-team field in the Rams’ final tournament before the Mountain West Conference Championships April 21-23 in Tucson, Ariz.

Meanwhile, Air Force’s Bone, a senior from Phoenix, came in a stroke behind Staiano after carding a final-round 71.

At the Silverado Showdown, Hodgkins, a CU freshman from Australia, and Fan, a junior who was runner-up in the 2015 CWGA Match Play, finished three strokes behind co-champions Lilia Vu of UCLA and Hannah Kim of Northwestern. The Buffs carded 5-under-par 211 totals, with Fan closing with a 68 and Hodgkins a 70.

Tuesday tied Hodgkin’s best college showing and was her fourth top-10 of the season. Fan, the 2013 low amateur at the Colorado Women’s Open, notched her best finish as a CU junior.

Team-wise, the Buffs ended up third out of 18 schools, behind only nationally third-ranked Stanford and No. 6 UCLA.

Wyoming Cowboy Classic
April 10-11, 2017 (final) in Chandler, Ariz.
6. (out of 18 teams) Colorado State 294-284-288–866
5. Jake Staiano 70-70-69–209
17. Blake Cannon 73-72-70–215
24. Max Oelfke 73-74-70–217
79. Colton Yates 81-68-79–228
96. Jimmy Makloski 78-79-79–236
22. AJ Ott (competing only as individual) 71-71-74–216
50. Logan Iverson (competing only as individual) 72-75-75–222
96. Pierce Aichinger (competing only as individual) 81-77-78–236

9. Air Force Academy 291-290-290–873
6. Brenden Bone 69-70-71–210
17. Sunwoo Choi 71-72-72–215
61. Dane Hankamer 77-74-71–223
83. Tate Tatom 76-75-76–229
92. Turner Howe 75-74-83–233
36. Andy Germann (competing only as individual) 74-71-74–219
88. Joseph Crisostomo (competing only as individual) 74-78-78–230

10. Denver 290-298-291–878
24. Jake Kelley 73-73-71–217
37. Eric Hagen 70-75-75–220
65. Petter Mikalsen 78-74-73–224
79. Isaac Petersilie 77-76-75–228
107. Chris Korte 70-NS-72
83. Johan Werge (competing only as individual) 78-77-74–229

Also
50. Victor Bjorlow, Colorado 75-72-75–222
50. Coloradan Tanner Jenson, Utah State 75-73-74–222
69. Coloradan Glenn Workman, Wyoming 76-76-71–224
90. Ryan Schmitz, Colorado 79-79-74–232
98. Wilson Belk, Colorado 79-81-78–238
104. Kade Crossland, Colorado 83-87-77-78–248

Silverado Showdown
April 9-11, 2017 (final) in Napa, Calif.
3. (out of 18 teams) Colorado 290-287-283–860
4. Kirsty Hodgkins 72-69-70–211
4. Brittany Fan 71-72-68–211
26. Esther Lee 71-73-75–219
34. Robyn Choi 76-73-71–220
83. Lauryn Keating 79-86-74–239
92. Gillian Vance (competing only as individual) NS-84-78