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.
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
We’ll be writing plenty about the Pac-12 tourney in the coming two weeks, but that’s just one of eight DI conference championships involving Colorado schools that will start before the end of the month. So here we’ll take a brief look at each tournament.
The University of Denver women will be attempting to claim a remarkable 14th consecutive league title, this one at the Summit League Championships April 23-25 in Nebraska City. A year ago in that event, the Pioneers prevailed by a whopping 52 strokes.
All told, there will likely be three Colorado-based DI teams that go into the conference tournaments ranked in the top 50 in the nation. The University of Colorado men’s and women’s squads are both in the top 25 in at least one ranking, while the DU women are as high as 48th.
But whether the conference championships mark the end of the season for a given local team, or just the beginning of a postseason run, here’s the rundown of what’s on tap for the nine NCAA Division I schools located in Colorado. We’re also including the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference tournaments, which feature the state’s DII programs.
— CSU Women at Mountain West Championships, April 17-19 in Rancho Mirage, Calif.
Last year’s finish by CSU: Sixth out of nine teams. Katrina Prendergast was runner-up individually.
Current national ranking for CSU: 120th (Golfstat), 120th Golfweek.
Top Season Stroke Average for CSU: Sophomore Katrina Prendergast (74.31).
— CSU Men and Air Force Academy Men at Mountain West, April 21-23 in Tucson, Ariz.
Last year’s finish by CSU: Fourth out of 11 teams. Dominic Kieffer (graduated) was sixth individually. Max Oelfke (now a junior) was 15th.
Current national ranking for CSU: 76th (Golfweek), 81st (Golfstat).
Top Season Stroke Average for CSU: Sophomore Jake Staiano (71.73).
Last year’s finish by Air Force: 10th out of 11 teams. Sunwoo Choi (now a senior) was 22nd individually.
Current national ranking for Air Force: 194th Golfstat, 199th Golfweek.
Top Season Stroke Average for Air Force: Senior Brenden Bone (73.9).
— UNC Women at Big Sky, April 21-23 in Boulder City, Nev.
Last year’s finish by UNC: Eighth out of 12 teams. Janet Yeo (transferred from UNC) was 21st individually. Kala Keltz (now a senior) was 37th.
Note: Coloradan Jaylee Tait of Montana State finished third individually in 2016. Tait was named third-team All-Big Sky this year.
Current national ranking for UNC: 144th (Golfstat), 145th (Golfweek).
Top Season Stroke Average for UNC: Freshman Morgan Sahm (75.4), named third-team All-Big Sky.
— DU Women at Summit Legaue, April 23-25 in Nebraska City
Last year’s finish by DU: First (13th consecutive conference title for the Pioneers). DU’s Jessica Carty (now a senior) earned the individual championship.
Current national ranking for DU: 48th (Golfstat), 52nd (Golfweek).
Top Season Stroke Average for DU: Senior Jessica Carty (74.8).
— Division II Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Men, April 24-25 in Chandler, Ariz.
Colorado Teams Competing: Colorado-Colorado Springs, Colorado Mines, CSU-Pueblo, Colorado Christian, Colorado Mesa, Regis, Fort Lewis.
2016 Championship: UCCS won team title. Top individual finishers from the Colorado schools were Colin Prater of UCCS and Jacob Allenback of CSU-Pueblo, who shared second place.
Top National DII Team Ranking for Participating Colorado Team: Colorado-Colorado Springs (47th).
Top National DII Individual Ranking for Participating Colorado Player: Colin Prater of UCCS (ninth).
— Division II Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Women, April 24-25 in Chandler, Ariz.
Colorado Teams Competing: Metro State Denver, Colorado Mesa, CSU-Pueblo, Colorado-Colorado Springs, Regis, Colorado Christian, Fort Lewis, Adams State.
2016 Championship: Metro State Denver won team title. Taylor Walters of Colorado Mesa (now a senior) claimed individual championship.
Top National DII Ranking for Colorado Team: Regis (37th).
Top National DII Individual Ranking for Participating Colorado Player: Freshman Mary Weinstin of Regis (58th).
— CU Women at Pac-12, April 24-26 in Tucson, Ariz.
Last year’s finish by CU: Fifth out of 11 teams. Alexis Keating (graduated) was fifth individually. Brittany Fan was 12th.
Current national ranking for CU: 22nd (Golfstat), 26th (Golfweek).
Top Season Stroke Average for CU: Senior Esther Lee (73.0).
CU Women Ranked in Top 100 Nationally: Esther Lee (34th, Golfstat; 35th, Golfweek); freshman Kirsty Hodgkins (61st, Golfstat; 91st, Golfweek).
TV: Taped coverage airing May 2 at 5:30 p.m. on Pac-12 Network.
— UNC Men at Big Sky, April 28-30 in Boulder City, Nev.
Last year’s finish by UNC: Fourth out of eight teams. Steven Kupcho (graduated) was sixth individually. Joshua Matz was 11th.
Current national ranking for UNC: 130th (Golfstat), 147th (Golfweek).
Top Season Stroke Average for UNC: Freshman Coby Welch (73.1).
— CU Men at Pac-12, April 28-30 at Boulder Country Club.
Note: 36 holes April 28 and 18 each April 29 and 30.
Admission: Free.
Last year’s finish by CU: Sixth out of 12 teams. Jeremy Paul (a senior who turned pro on April 17, 2017) was seventh individually.
Current national ranking for CU: 23rd (Golfweek), 25th (Golfstat).
Top Season Stroke Average for CU: Jeremy Paul (71.75). Note: Paul turned pro on April 17, thus ending his college career.
CU Men Ranked in Top 100 Nationally: Jeremy Paul (81st, Golfstat); senior Ethan Freeman (95th, Golfstat). Note: Paul turned pro on April 17, thus ending his college career.
TV: Taped coverage airing May 7 at noon on Pac-12 Network.
— DU Men at Summit League, April 30-May 2 in Newton, Kan.
Last year’s finish by DU: Seventh out of nine teams. Chris Korte (now a junior) was second individually.
Current national ranking for DU: 114th (Golfweek), 119th (Golfstat).
Top Season Stroke Average for DU: Junior Chris Korte (73.3).
Kupcho, the 2012 CGA Player of the Year whose sister Jennifer recently finished runner-up in the women’s ACC tournament, closed with a 1-under-par 71 Sunday at the Big Sky tournament in Boulder City, Nev. That left him at 5-under-par 211 overall, five strokes behind individual champion Evan Russell of Hartford.
As a team, UNC ended up fourth out of eight teams in the Big Sky as the Bears’ 1-over-par 865 total was 23 back of winner Idaho.
Paul, who made an eagle and two birdies Sunday at the Pac-12 meet in Salt Lake City, fired a 2-over-par 73. His 2-under-par 282 total left him 10 behind champion Jon Rahm of Arizona State. The best previous individual finish for CU in its first four Pac-12 Championships was a 12th by David Oraee two years ago.
Team-wise, Colorado tied for six out of 12 teams on Sunday, posting a 39-over-par 1,459 total. Stanford claimed the title at 1,402.
CU will host the 2017 Pac-12 Championships April 28-30 at Boulder Country Club. It will be the first time the Buffs’ men’s golf team has hosted a conference championship since the 1972 Big Eight tournament.
Meanwhile, the Summit League Championship started Sunday in Newton, Kan., and the University of Denver sits in fourth place out of nine teams after round 1, at 18-over-par 306, leaving the Pioneers 14 shots behind leader South Dakota State. Sophomore Chris Korte, the 2015 CGA Stroke Play champion who was named a second-team All-Summit League selection, shot an even-par 72 and shares third place individually. Zach Schroeder of IPFW leads the way at 70.
Men’s Pac-12 Conference Championship
April 29-May 1, 2016 (final) in Salt Lake City, Utah
6. (out of 12 teams) Colorado 360-363-371-365–1459
7. Jeremy Paul 67-68-74-73–282; 35. Ethan Freeman 75-73-76-70–294; 36. John Souza 76-70-74-75–295; 38. Philip Juel-Berg 72-77-70-77–296; 41. Wilson Belk 74-75-78-70–297; 67. Ross Macdonald 72-77-77-84–310.
Men’s Big Sky Conference Championship
April 29-May 1, 2016 (final) in Boulder City, Nev.
4. (out of 8 teams) Northern Colorado 285-296-284–865
6. Steven Kupcho 68-72-71–211; 11. Joshua Matz 73-76-66–215; 15. Li Chen 74-74-72–220; 17. Conner Barr 70-74-77–221; 38. Sam Marley 80-78-75–233.
Men’s Summit League Championship
May 1-3, 2016 in Newton, Kan.
4. (out of 9 teams) Denver 306
3. Chris Korte 72; 11. Jake Kelley 75; 21. Arti Edelman 78; 37. Adam Ruben 81; 40. Michael Boylan 82.
Men’s Big 12 Conference Championship
April 29-May 1, 2016 (final) in Trinity, Texas
29. Coloradan Wyndham Clark, Oklahoma State 75-78-73-75–301
The 2012 CGA Player of the Year made an eagle and five birdies Friday to shoot a 4-under-par 68 in the first round of the Big Sky Conference Championship in Boulder City, Nev. The score left him tied for second place in the 54-hole event, two strokes behind leader Taylor Knoll of Sacramento State. As a team, Northern Colorado sits in third place at 3 under par, 10 back of leader Sacramento State.
Meanwhile, also in the top three individually at a conference meet is University of Colorado junior Jeremy Paul, who shares third place at the Pac-12 tournament in Salt Lake City.
Paul posted rounds of 67-68 for a 7-under-par 135 total at the halfway point at The Country Club. The German made an eagle and nine birdies in his two rounds on Friday.
Paul trails leader K.K. Limbhasut by three strokes with two rounds remaining.
In the team competition, CU is tied for sixth place, going 360-363 for a 13-over-par 723 total. Stanford leads the way at 688.
Men’s Big Sky Conference Championship
April 29-May 1, 2016 in Boulder City, Nev.
3. (out of 8 teams) Northern Colorado 285
2. Steven Kupcho 68; 6. Conner Barr 70; 16. Joshua Matz 73; 24. Li Chen 74; 38. Sam Marley 80.
Men’s Pac-12 Conference Championship
April 29-May 1, 2016 in Salt Lake City, Utah
6. (out of 12 teams) Colorado 360-363–723
3. Jeremy Paul 67-68–135; 36. John Souza 76-70–146; 40. Ethan Freeman 75-73–148; 45. Ross Macdonald 72-77–149; 45. Wilson Belk 74-75–149; 45. Philip Juel-Berg 72-77–149.
Men’s Big 12 Conference Championship
April 29-May 1, 2016 in Trinity, Texas
21. Coloradan Wyndham Clark, Oklahoma State 75-78–153
Not that there was much suspense after each of the first two rounds, but the Pioneers extended their remarkable streak of conference championships to 13 on Wednesday by winning the Summit League title in Nebraska City.
The run includes three Summit League championships, nine in the Sun Belt Conference and one in the WAC.
A year after prevailing by 18 shots for the Summit title, the Pios steamrolled the nine-team field in winning by 52 strokes. Denver finished with a 14-over-par 878 total for three days.
It was DU’s second team victory of the season, and this one assured the Pioneers another berth in the NCAA regionals.
Meanwhile, Jessica Carty (pictured), a junior from Northern Ireland, claimed her first individual college title after leading wire-to-wire. With a 1-over-par 217 total, she prevailed by four strokes over teammate Mariell Bruun. In fact, all five DU players finished in the top eight individually.
Elsewhere in women’s league championships on Wednesday:
— Colorado State freshman Katrina Prendergast finished runner-up individually at the Mountain West Conference tournament in Rancho Mirago, Calif. By going 71-73-73 for a 1-over-par 217 total, Prendergast ended up five strokes behind champion Alexandra Kaui of UNLV. As a team, CSU placed sixth in the nine-team field.
— University of Colorado senior Alexis Keating held the outright lead at the Pac-12 tournament halfway through Wednesday’s final round in Pleasanton, Calif., but four bogeys over the final eight holes forced her to settle for fifth place overall.
It was Keating’s second top-five finish in the last two years at the Pac-12s, which is saying something considering it’s one of the powerhouse conferences in women’s golf.
Keating, who was also fifth at the Pac-12 meet at Boulder Country Club last year, posted a 2-over-par 74 total on Wednesday, leaving her at 6-under-par 210 overall, five strokes back of champion Linnea Strom of Arizona State.
CU finished fifth in the team race, matching its best showing in the Pac-12 Championships.
After the tournament, CU junior Esther Lee was named to the All-Pac-12 first team for the second consecutive year. She leads the Buffs with a 72.48 scoring average.
— Coloradan Jaylee Tait, a sophomore from Montana State, placed third individually Wednesday at the Big Sky Championship after taking the lead into the final round in Boulder City, Nev. Tait closed with a 3-over-par 75, giving her an even-par 216 total, four behind the top players. Northern Colorado tied for eighth place in the team competition.
Women’s Summit League Championship
April 18-20, 2016 (final) in Nebraska City, Neb.
1. (out of 9 teams) Denver 295-283-300–878
1. Jessica Carty 69-72-76–217; 2. Mariell Bruun 76-71-74–221; 3. Jessica Dreesbeimdieke 78-71-73–222; 5. Kathi Baratta 74-74-77–225; 8. Sophie Newlove 76-69-83–228.
Women’s Pac-12 Conference Championship
April 18-20, 2016 (final) in Pleasanton, Calif.
5. (out of 11 teams) Colorado 286-284-294–864
5. Alexis Keating 70-66-74–210; 12. Brittany Fan 72-73-70–215; 18. Esther Lee 70-73-73–216; 45. Gillian Vance 75-72-77–224; 50. Natalie Vivaldi 73-73-79–226.
Women’s Mountain West Conference Championship
April 18-20, 2016 (final) in Rancho, Mirage, Calif.
6. (out of 9 teams) Colorado State 309-305-307–921
2. Katrina Prendergast 71-73-73–217; 27. Sarah Archuleta 77-75-79–231; 32. Mikayla Tatman 81-79-74–234; 37. Brianna Becker 80-78-81–239; 38. Elisabeth Rau 81-79-81–241.
Also
40. Coloradan Kathleen Kershisnik, Wyoming 80-83-79–242
Women’s Big Sky Conference Championship
April 18-20, 2016 (final) in Boulder City, Nev.
8. (out of 12 teams) Northern Colorado 302-299-301–902
21. Janet Yeo 76-73-74–223; 25. Amanda Myers 82-69-73–224; 37. Kala Keltz 75-80-75–230; 44. Nicole Okada 75-78-79–232; 49. Baile Winslow 76-79-80–235.
Also
3. Coloradan Jaylee Tait, Montana State 69-72-75–216
Meanwhile, University of Colorado senior Alexis Keating (pictured) shot a 6-under-par 66 and moved within a stroke of the individual lead at the formidable Pac-12 Conference tournament, and Jessica Carty continued to hold the top spot at the Summit League Championship as her University of Denver team all but assured itself its 13th consecutive conference title. Another local setting the pace in league championships is Coloradan Jaylee Tait of Montana State (Big Sky).
— The Metro State women defeated Colorado-Colorado Springs 4-0-1 in Tuesday’s title match of the RMAC Championship in Avondale, Ariz. Winning individual matches for MSU on Tuesday were Allie Johnston, Valerie Cruz, Dani Look and Lindsey Gullikson. On Monday, Taylor Walters of Colorado Mesa earned the individual title after rounds of 72-71.
— In the men’s RMAC title match in Goodyear, Ariz., CU-Colorado Springs defeated the Colorado School of Mines 3-1-1. Winning their matches for UCCS on Tuesday were Colin Prater, Zach Berhost and Chris Reina. CU-Colorado Springs won the regular-season RMAC title before also prevailing in the medal-match format at the RMAC tournament. Tuesday’s victory gives UCCS an automatic berth in the NCAA Division II West/South Central Region Championships. Meanwhile, claiming the individual RMAC title on Tuesday was Western New Mexico’s Calum Hill (69-67–136).
— At the women’s Pac-12 meet in Pleasanton, Calif., Keating made a big move with a seven-birdie 66, which left her a shot behind Southern California’s Gabriella Then going into Wednesday’s final round. Keating placed fifth at the 2015 Pac-12 meeting, shooting a final-round 66 at Boulder Country Club. On Tuesday, CU carded a sub-par team score for the second straight day — in this case a 4-under-par 284, which gives the Buffs a 6-under 570 total, leaving them in fifth place.
— At the women’s Summit League tournament in Nebraska City, Denver opened up a 40-stroke lead in its quest for consecutive conference title No. 13. DU shot a 5-under-par 283 as a team on Tuesday. The Pioneers’ five players are all within the top six individually, with Carty (69-72–141) leading the way by four strokes.
— At the women’s Big Sky tournament in Boulder City, Nev., Tait kept the top individual spot as an even-par 72 left her with a 3-under 141 total and a one-stroke advantage going into the final round.
— And at the women’s MWC championship in Rancho Mirage, Calif., freshman Katrina Prendergast of Colorado State sits in second place, one stroke back of UNLV’s Alexandra Kaui. Prendergast fired a 1-over-par 73, leaving her at even-par 144.
Here are the results for local teams and players at various conference championships:
Men’s RMAC Championship
April 17-19, 2016 (final) in Goodyear, Ariz.
TEAM
Title Match
CU-Colorado Springs def. Colorado School of Mines 3-1-1
Chris Reina, UCCS def. Taylor MacKay 71-75
Mike McNulty, Mines def. Kyle Southard 72-76
Zach Berhost, UCCS def. Conrad Smith 73-80
Zach Tripp, UCCS tied with George Markham 75-75
Colin Prater, UCCS def. Nick Berry 69-82
Semifinals
CU-Colorado Springs def. Colorado Mesa 3-2
Colorado School of Mines def. Colorado Christian 3-2
Quarterfinals
CU-Colorado Springs def. Regis 3-2
Colorado Mesa def. Western New Mexico 3-2
Colorado Christian def. Fort Lewis 3-2
Colorado School of Mines def. CSU-Pueblo 2-1-2
Top 5 Individual Finishers
1. Calum Hill, Western New Mexico 69-67–136
2. (tie) Colin Prater, UCCS 72-69–141
Jacob Allenback, CSU-Pueblo 76-65–141
4. Luke Condon, Colorado Chritian 73-69–142
5. Chris Reina, UCCS 75-71–146
Women’s RMAC Championship
April 17-19, 2016 (final) in Avondale, Ariz.
TEAM
Title Match
Metro State def. Colorado-Colorado Springs 4-0-1
Allie Johnston, MSU def. Forre Zook 71-75
Valerie Cruz, MSU def. Amanda Crites 73-77
Dani Look, MSU def. Raquell Castillo 80-86
Cha Cha Willhoite, MSU tied with Timbrelee McNair 75-75
Lindsey Gullikson, MSU def. Alex Darwin 78-79
Third-Place Match
CSU-Pueblo def. Western New Mexico 4-0-1
Top 5 Individual Finishers
1. Taylor Walters, Colorado Mesa, 72-71–143
2. Alex Darwin, Colo-Colo Springs, 73-72–145
3. (tie) Courtney Ewing, CSU-Pueblo 74-73–147
Lindsey Gullikson, Metro State 72-75–147
5. Shelby Turner, Western New Mexico 76-72–148
Women’s Summit League Championship
April 18-20, 2016 in Nebraska City, Neb.
1. (out of 9 teams) Denver 295-283–578
1. Jessica Carty 69-72–141; 2. Sophie Newlove 76-69–145; 4. Mariell Bruun 76-71–147; 5. Kathi Baratta 74-74–148; 6. Jessica Dreesbeimdieke 78-71–149.
Women’s Mountain West Conference Championship
April 18-20, 2016 in Rancho, Mirage, Calif.
6. (out of 9 teams) Colorado State 309-305–614
2. Katrina Prendergast 71-73–144; 15. Sarah Archuleta 77-75–152; 33. Brianna Becker 80-78–158; 36. Elisabeth Rau 81-79–160; 36. Mikayla Tatman 81-79–160.
Also
40. Coloradan Kathleen Kershisnik, Wyoming 80-83–163
Women’s Pac-12 Conference Championship
April 18-20, 2016 in Pleasanton, Calif.
5. (out of 11 teams) Colorado 286-284–570
2. Alexis Keating 70-66–136; 18. Esther Lee 70-73–143; 26. Brittany Fan 72-73–145; 39. Natalie Vivaldi 73-73–147; 39. Gillian Vance 75-72–147.
Women’s Big Sky Conference Championship
April 18-20, 2016 in Boulder City, Nev.
7. (out of 12 teams) Northern Colorado 302-299–601
20. Janet Yeo 76-73–149; 26. Amanda Myers 82-69–151; 31. Nicole Okada 75-78–153; 37. Kala Keltz 75-80–155; 37. Baile Winslow 76-79–155.
Also
1. Coloradan Jaylee Tait, Montana State 69-72–141
— Coloradan Jaylee Tait, a sophomore at Montana State, shot a 3-under-par 69 and leads the women’s Big Sky Conference Championship in Boulder City, Nev., by two. Tait (pictured), a 2014 U.S. Women’s Amateur qualifier, made six birdies on Monday.
— The University of Denver, seeking its 13th consecutive conference title, is off to a very good start. The Pioneers, with a 7-over-par 295 round in the women’s Summit League tournament in Nebraska City, leads second-place Oral Roberts by 20 shots with two rounds remaining. And DU’s Jessica Carty fired a 3-under-par 69 and leads the individual competition by four shots over South Dakota’s Brenna Lervick.
— Then at the women’s Mountain West Conference Championship in Rancho Mirage, Calif., Colorado State freshman Katrina Prendergast shares the individual lead after round 1. Prendergast carded a 1-under-par 71 to earn a tie for the top spot with Georgia Lacey of San Diego State and Gudrun Bjorgvinsdottir of Fresno State.
Here are the scores for local players and teams:
Women’s Mountain West Conference Championship
April 18-20, 2016 in Rancho, Mirage, Calif.
6. (out of 9 teams) Colorado State 309
T1. Katrina Prendergast 71; 19. Sarah Archuleta 77; 34. Brianna Becker 80; 37. Elisabeth Rau 81; 37. Mikayla Tatman 81.
Also
34. Coloradan Kathleen Kershisnik, Wyoming 80.
Women’s Big Sky Conference Championship
April 18-20, 2016 in Boulder City, Nev.
5. (out of 12 teams) Northern Colorado 302
23. Kala Keltz 75; 23. Nicole Okada 75; 28. Baile Winslow 76; 28. Janet Yeo 76; 46. Amanda Myers 82.
Also
1. Coloradan Jaylee Tait, Montana State 69.
Women’s Pac-12 Conference Championship
April 18-20, 2016 in Pleasanton, Calif.
4. (out of 11 teams) Colorado 286
5. Esther Lee 70; 5. Alexis Keating 70; 22. Brittany Fan 72; 39. Natalie Vivaldi 73; 45. Gillian Vance 75.
Women’s Summit League Championship
April 18-20, 2016 in Nebraska City, Neb.
1. (out of 9 teams) Denver 295
1. Jessica Carty 69; 3. Kathi Baratta 74; 5. Mariell Bruun 76; 5. Sophie Newlove 76; 10. Jessica Dreesbeimdieke 78.
The regular season has ended for all nine NCAA Division I golf programs based in Colorado (five men’s, four women’s), with the last of the bunch wrapping up play on Sunday. Up next, starting as soon as Monday for some Colorado teams, are conference championships, then — potentially — NCAA regionals and finals.
And while there won’t be any Division I tournaments in Colorado in the coming month and a half, both the men’s and women’s NCAA D-II finals will be held in the Centennial State, with the men May 17-21 at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club and the women May 18-21 at CommonGround Golf Course. Tickets for those events will be $5 per day or $15 for the week, with the cost good for both sites. For those interested in volunteering for one of the tournaments, CLICK HERE.
As for the local Division I programs, conference championships are scheduled over the coming two weeks. First up are all of the local D-I women’s teams competing Monday through Wednesday at four different sites.
That includes the University of Denver, which will be going for its 13th consecutive conference title, this one at the Summit League tournament in Nebraska City. Also competing those same dates are the University of Colorado women, who are ranked 25th in the nation according to Golfweek and are at the Pac-12 Championships in Pleasantown, Calif.
Here’s a brief rundown on each of the D-I conference championships involving a Colorado team:
— CU women at Pac-12 tournament, April 18-20 in Pleasantown, Calif. Notable: CU hosted the 2015 event at Boulder Country Club, posting its best finish ever in the Pac-12 (fifth). … The 25th-ranked Buffs have recorded four top-four team finishes this season. … Junior Esther Lee leads the Buffs in scoring, at 72.54. She’s posted six top-10 individual finishes this season, including one win in the stroke-play portion of a match-play event. Lee is ranked No. 15 among the nation’s women’s D-I players by both Golfweek and Golfstat.
— DU women at Summit League tournament, April 18-20 in Nebraska City. Notable: In the last dozen years, the Pioneers have won two Summit League titles, plus nine in the Sun Belt Conference, and one in the WAC. DU prevailed by 18 strokes last year. … Denver has two top-four finishes to its credit, both coming in Colorado, including a win in DU’s Ron Moore Women’s Intercollegiate in October. … Freshman Kathi Baratta, a first-team All-Summit League pick, leads DU in stroke average at 76.1.
— Colorado State women at Mountain West Conference tournament, April 18-20 in Rancho Mirage, Calif. Notable: The Rams placed sixth at the 2015 conference tourney. … CSU notched two top-four finishes during the regular season. … Freshman Katrina Prendergast leads CSU in stroke average at 73.76. Her best finish is a fifth-place showing.
— Northern Colorado women at Big Sky tournament, April 18-20 in Boulder City, Nev. Notable: 2015: UNC finished sixth in last year’s Big Sky Championships. … The Bears placed in the top three in two of their last three tournaments. … Junior Kala Keltz from Montrose claimed an individual title on Tuesday at the Montana State Bobcat Invitational. Also recently posting a high individual showing was UNC’s Amanda Myers, who was runner-up in a tournament last month.
— CSU and Air Force Academy men at Mountain West Conference tournament, April 22-24 in Tucson, Ariz. Notable: CSU was fifth and Air Force 10th in last year’s MWC meet. … Colorado State has posted five top-four finishes this season, including two victories. … CSU senior Dominic Kieffer leads the Rams in stroke average, at 71.9, having notched four top-six individual finishes. … Air Force posted two top-three team showings this season. … Of golfers who have competed in more than 20 rounds, Sunwoo Choi leads the Falcons in stroke average at 73.9. He has two top-10s to his credit.
— UNC men at Big Sky tournament, April 29-May 1 in Boulder City, Nev. Notable: Last year, UNC placed sixth in the conference tournament. … The Bears’ top team showing this season has been a runner-up. … Coloradan Steven Kupcho, the 2012 CGA Player of the Year, will wrap up his college career this spring. He placed fourth in a tournament in February.
— CU men at the Pac-12 tournament, April 29-May 1 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Notable: The Buffs will host the 2017 Pac-12 Championships next April 28-30 at Boulder Country Club. … CU, ranked 60th in the nation by Golfstat, has posted five top-four team finishes this season, notching two victories. … Junior Jeremy Paul (70.45) and senior Philip Juel-Berg (71.87) both average under 72 for the Buffs. Each has an individual victory in a large-scale tournament this season. … CU placed 11th in the league tournament last year.
— DU men at Summit League tournament, May 1-3 in Newton, Kan. Notable: The Pioneers’ top team showing of the season was a fifth place at the Pacific Invitational in October. … 2015 CGA Stroke Play champion Chris Korte, a sophomore, leads the Pioneers’ regulars in stroke average at 74.9. … Last year, DU placed fifth in the league championship. … The Pioneers just signed Roy Kang of North Vancouver, B.C., to a national letter of intent. Kang, who tied for third in the 2015 Junior America’s Cup, will join DU in the fall.
The Pioneers have known nothing but success in their conference tournaments for the last decade, having put together an amazing run of 10 consecutive conference team titles.
They’ve won in the Sun Belt Conference (nine times), they’ve won in the Western Athletic Conference (once) and this week coach Lindsay (Hulwick) Kuhle’s squad will take aim at the Summit League crown, which will be decided from Monday through Wednesday (April 21-23) in Keller, Texas.
Kuhle (pictured above), the 2005 CWGA Stroke Play winner, has been involved in most of DU’s run of conference championship dominance, having been an assistant coach or associate head coach under Sammie Chergo for seven of the victories before taking the Pioneers to the WAC title last year as a rookie head coach.
And DU has not only claimed team victories at conference championships during the last decade. The Pioneers have also won six individual titles during that span: Emily Hoeper (2005), Stephanie Sherlock (2007 and 2008), Kimberly Kim (2010), Rachael Watton (2012) and Tonje Daffinrud (2013).
Daffinrud, then a junior, ran away with the WAC title a year ago, winning by six strokes. And before departing the DU program later this spring, she’ll try to make it two in a row, this time in the Summit League. She owns a 72.05 season-long stroke average — the best among league players by almost three shots — and has posted top-eight finishes in each of her last five stroke-play events. Daffinrud is ranked 15th in the nation among women collegians by Golfstat and 24th by Golfweek.
“I would love to win Summit League titles both as a team and as an individual,” Daffinrud said. “A win would give myself and the team great confidence going into the NCAA Regionals and ideally, into the NCAA Championships.”
Should Denver claim the Summit League title, it will earn an automatic berth into the NCAA regionals.
There are eight teams in the Summit League tournament, mostly from the Midwest, but DU placed first in the preseason league polls, both on the women’s and men’s sides. In fact, Denver ranks among the top 45 women’s teams in the nation. And DU claimed all five spots on the all-league women’s first team (Daffinrud, Mariell Bruun, Elyse Smidinger, Isabel Southard and Watton), a first in Summit League history.
All nine NCAA Division I golf programs in the state (five men’s and four women’s) will compete in their conference championships over the next week.
Here’s the schedule, noting the Colorado-based schools playing:
April 20-22 — Big Sky Women in Chandler, Ariz. (Northern Colorado)
April 21-23 — Summit League Men in Tyler, Texas (Denver)
April 21-23 — Summit League Women in Keller, Texas (Denver)
April 24-26 — Mountain West Women in Rancho Mirage, Calif. (Colorado State)
April 25-27 — Pac-12 Men in Marana, Ariz. (Colorado)
April 25-27 — Pac-12 Women in Corvallis, Ore. (Colorado)
April 25-27 — Mountain West Men in Tucson, Ariz. (Colorado State and Air Force)
April 25-27 — America Sky Men in Angels Camp, Calif. (Northern Colorado)
Here’s a rundown:
April 20-22 — Big Sky Women in Chandler, Ariz.
Notable — Northern Colorado is ranked 210th/211th among the nation’s Division I women’s teams. … UNC, the 2012 champion, finished third in the 2013 Big Sky Championship. … Since-graduated Carleigh Silvers was UNC’s top individual last year, placing fifth. … Colorado Springs resident Paige Crawford, who plays for Montana State, is defending her conference title this week after winning by seven strokes last year.
April 21-23 — Summit League Men in Tyler, Texas
Notable — Denver, ranked 127th/131st in the nation, won its opener and notched one other top-five finish this season. … Senior Oskar Arvidsson leads Denver in season-long scoring average with 72.47. He has one win and three other top-10s this season. … Joining Arvidsson on the all-league first team is teammate Ole Ramsnes. … Arvidsson finished fifth individually at the Western Athletic Conference Championships last year. … DU placed seventh in the 10-team conference race in 2013.
April 21-23 — Summit League Women in Keller, Texas
Notable — See story above.
April 24-26 — Mountain West Women in Rancho Mirage, Calif.
Notable — Colorado State recorded one top-five finish during the regular season, a fourth-place showing at the Rainbow Wahine Invitational. The Rams are ranked 122th/129th in the nation. … Emily Roering owns the team’s top scoring average at 76.9, having posted one top-five finish. … Colorado State finished seventh in last year’s eight-team MWC tournament. … Roering led the way for CSU individually, placing 19th.
April 25-27 — Pac-12 Men in Marana, Ariz.
Notable — This tournament is unusual in that it’s a 72-hole event, with the best five scores from six players each day counting toward the team total. … Colorado has posted seven top-four team finishes this season, including in each of its last four tournaments. The Buffs are ranked 53rd/59th in the country. … German twins Jeremy Paul (72.03) and Yannik Paul (72.63), both freshmen, lead CU in season stroke average. Paul won a tournament this spring and is ranked 126th in the nation by Golfstat and 174th by Golfweek. … Colorado finished 10th in last year’s Pac-12 Championships. … The Buffs put one player in the top 25 individually in 2013 as Philip Juel-Berg placed 24th.
April 25-27 — Pac-12 Women in Corvallis, Ore.
Notable — Colorado has recorded two top-three finishes this season and is ranked 47th/58th in the nation. … Senior Jennifer Coleman leads the team in stroke average at 74.0. She’s finished in the top three individually in two of her last three tournaments and ranks 107th/121st in the country. … Coleman placed third individually against a very strong field in last year’s conference championship. … As a team, the Buffs ended up ninth in 2013.
April 25-27 — Mountain West Men in Tucson, Ariz.
Notable — Air Force Academy senior Kyle Westmoreland has notched five top-seven finishes this season, including a victory at the season-opening Gene Miranda Falcon Invitational. He ranks third in the Mountain West Conference in scoring average at 71.7. Nationally, Westmoreland is 109th in the country according to Golfstat. … Junior Cameron Harrell leads the way for CSU in stroke average at 72.24. … Air Force has won two tournaments this season, the Gene Miranda Falcon Invitational and the Snowman Getaway. … CSU is ranked 103rd/104th in the nation, while Air Force is 137th/142nd. … Air Force finished fourth and Colorado State placed fifth in the nine-team 2013 conference championships. … Westmoreland was the top local individual in 2013, finishing eighth.
April 25-27 — America Sky Men in Angels Camp, Calif.
Notable — Northern Colorado has posted three top-three team finishes this season, including a win at the Border Olympics. … The Bears are ranked 152nd/153rd in the country. … In the last five tournaments, five UNC players have finished in the top two individually, with Ben Krueger doing so twice, Steven Kupcho twice and Conner Barr once. … Krueger, a Colorado Springs resident, placed third individually last year at the conference tournament. … UNC ended up fifth in the 12-team America Sky field last year.