The second annual Ram Masters Invitational featured a wide array of storylines, ranging from the rare to the fulfilling to the heartbreaking.
On the rare side, the tournament that ended Tuesday at Fort Collins Country Club included each of the last three head coaches of the Colorado State men’s golf team — second-year CSU coach Christian Newton (current) and former helmsmen Mark Crabtree (now at Louisville) and Jamie Bermel (Kansas).
As for fulfilling, the University of Denver men notched their first team victory since April 2011, when the Pioneers won the Sun Belt Conference title. And both of the co-champs in the individual competition — CSU junior Cameron Harrell and DU’s Oskar Arvidsson — posted their first individual victory in college. (The two are pictured above, with Arvidsson at left.)
On the heartbreaking end, CSU not only lost its home tournament by a single stroke for the second straight year, but extenuating circumstances on Tuesday made it even more painful this time. A one-stroke penalty incurred on the final hole by freshman Jimmy Makloski of Pueblo, the 2012 CGA Junior Stroke Play champion who was making his college debut, made the difference between CSU finishing second or playing off against DU for the title.
“You hate to see that,” DU coach Eric Hoos said. “Honestly, I would much rather have had a tie and go into a playoff. But that speaks volumes about the character of Jimmy and to their program that he called (the penalty) on himself. That’s what this game is about. I don’t think that always happens out there. Class kid, class program. I’m sorry for him.”
Colorado State led for most of the final day, but with DU done with its round and just Makloski and Harrell’s groups left on the course Tuesday, the Rams were tied with Denver after Harrell made a 5-foot birdie on 17.
Though Makloski had bogeyed his previous two holes, he had a 4-foot birdie attempt on No. 18. After getting some help lining up the putt from assistant coach Bret Guetz, Makloski addressed the ball — and the ball subsequently changed position. Makloski backed off, said something to Guetz (pictured at left), and rules official Rich Langston was called in. Langston told them it would be a one-stroke penalty — and to replace the ball.
Makloski then missed the short putt and finished with a bogey. And when Harrell, in the final group, recorded a par, CSU had fallen a shot short of the top spot for the second consecutive year.
“I still should have collected myself better mentally after (the penalty) and made it and we should have been in a playoff,” said Makloski, who placed 22nd in his first college event. “I guess it’s something to learn from.”
Asked if he takes anything from doing the right thing and calling the infraction on himself, Makloski said, “It kind of makes me feel a little better, but it’s still tough because one shot made a big difference today.”
DU (pictured at left), which started the final round in seventh place and 11 out of the lead in the 15-team event, put together a stellar score on Tuesday to rally for the victory. The Pioneers’ 8-under-par 272 was the best score of the tournament by five strokes and left them at 7-over 847 overall, one better than CSU, which closed with a 284.
Denver recorded three scores in the 60s on Tuesday, including a 64 (by Arvidsson), a 65 (by junior Victor Doka, who finished fifth) and a 69 (by senior Ole Ramsnes, who placed 24th).
“With the conditions out there — a wet, long golf course — it’s a really special round,” Hoos said.
In all, Colorado-based schools put four players in the top 10 individually — Harrell, Arvidsson, Doka and Northern Colorado’s Steven Kupcho, who shared 10th place.
Harrell (pictured at left), who hails from Colorado Springs, went 67-67 in the last two rounds to gain a share of his first college victory. He posted a 6-under 204 total along with Arvidsson.
Perhaps not coincidentally, Harrell’s co-championship came at the same course where he qualified for the U.S. Amateur earlier this summer. Harrell said he’s probably played Fort Collins Country Club about 100 times over the years, and the CSU team often uses the course as a qualifying site.
“Coming out here and qualifying every day, you get more and more comfortable because I feel this course takes a lot to get comfortable with it,” said Harrell, who made nine birdies in the final two rounds. “It’s just a huge advantage for us to be out here every day with these greens, this course.
“Hopefully more tournaments are here. It’s fun to dominate the field because I know a lot of people don’t like coming here. I’m fine with that.”
This kind of performance is exactly what Newton has told Harrell he’s capable of.
“This is what we’ve been telling him he is,” Newton said. “For it to finally come to fruition is obviously huge for us. This is a big springboard for his year. This is how good Cam is.”
As for Arvidsson (pictured at left), a fourth-year player from Sweden who’s been a mainstay for DU, he likewise showed his stuff on Tuesday by carding an eagle, five birdies and a bogey en route to a 64.
“It feels great,” he said. “I know I can play well and I proved it today. It gives me good confidence for the upcoming tournaments.”
The Ram Masters Invitational marked DU’s season opener, which Hoos hopes bodes well for the Pioneers.
“It’s been a while since we won, and it makes it even more special to start the season with a win,” the veteran coach said. “You have some seniors and juniors on this team who have worked hard a lot of years here. It’s nice to see them get a reward like this.”
Conversely, it stings some for CSU to absorb finishing second — by one stroke — two straight years at its own event.
“Obviously it is hard to swallow,” Newton said. “But you want to look at it as a big, giant picture. We’re not going to take snapshots of the year. I’m real proud of the guys. We played just terrible down at Air Force last week (placing 12th). For us just to be in the situation we were (today), I’m pretty proud as a coach.
“For Jimmy (Makloski), this is golf. That’s what happens. I’m just proud of him for his integrity, just stepping up, being a man and being accountable for what happened.”
Ram Masters Invitational
Sept. 16-17, 2013 at Par-70 Fort Collins CC
1. Denver 287-288-272–847
T1. Oskar Arvidsson 72-68-64–204; 5. Victor Doka 71-73-65–209; 24. Ole Ramsnes 72-76-69–217; 53. Arthy Edelman 72-73-78–223; 64. Patrick Frodigh 79-74-74–227. Competing only as Individual: 53. Petter Mikalsen 76-71-76–223.
2. Colorado State 280-284-284–848
T1. Cameron Harrell 70-67-67–204; 15. Dominic Kieffer 67-75-72–214; 15. Parker Edens 72-72-70–214; 22. Jimmy Makloski 71-70-75–216; 53. Brett Wilson 73-75-75–223. Competing only as Individuals: 62. Patrick Winther 80-73-73–226; 71. Alec Bone 77-73-78–228.
9. Northern Colorado 287-287-293–867
10. Steven Kupcho 70-72-70–212; 34. Ben Krueger 74-73-72–219; 41. Steve Connell 72-76-73–221; 50. Conner Barr 71-73-78–222; 71. Jack Cummings 79-69-80–228. Competing only as Individual: 71. Austin Lowe 77-73-78–228.
Suffice it to say it’s a lot of competitive golf in a relatively short stretch. A 54-hole tournament every nine or 10 days is a pretty hectic run, especially considering the travel involved and that the players also are going to school full-time.
With the fall schedule having recently concluded for the Colorado-based NCAA Division I teams, it’s time to bring that blur into focus.
All told, the nine local D-I programs posted a couple of team victories and four individual wins in multi-team tournaments held during the last two months. (Among the individual champs was Colorado State’s Kirby Pettitt, pictured above with assistant coach Bret Guetz.)
After a winter break, most teams will return to tournament action in February.
Here are how the Colorado-based Division I teams and individuals fared in the fall season. (Note: Only multi-team tournaments results are included.)
Air Force Academy Men
National Rankings: 150th (Golfweek), 162nd (Golfstat).
Best Team Finish: Won Service Academy Championship.
Top-Five Team Finishes: Two in five events. One win and one fourth.
Top-Five Individual Finishes: Three. Second (Andrew Hoops), third (Philip Colwell), fifth (Kyle Westmoreland).
Begins Spring Season: Feb. 25-26 at Snowman Getaway in Goodyear, Ariz.
Notable: In tying for first place with Army, Air Force claimed its 16th consecutive title in the Service Academy Golf Classic. Westmoreland owns the top stroke average for the Falcons, at 73.1.
University of Colorado Men
National Rankings: 66th (Golfstat), 69th (Golfweek).
Best Team Finish: Won Gene Miranda Falcon Invitational.
Top-Five Team Finishes: Three in five tournaments. One win and two seconds.
Top-Five Individual Finishes: Three. One win (Jason Burstyn), two thirds (both Derek Fribbs).
Begins Spring Season: Feb. 6-8 at Hawaii-Hilo Intercollegiate in Waikoloa, Hawaii.
Notable: The Buffs went first, second and second in their opening three invitationals before placing 12th in two October tournaments. Including the season-opening Ballyneal Challenge, Burstyn leads the team in stroke average at 71.65 and is ranked 84th in the nation individually, according to Golfstat. He won the Gene Miranda Falcon Invitational title by three shots.
CU Women
National Rankings: 84th (Golfstat), 84th (Golfweek).
Best Team Finish: Eighth in Dick McGuire Invitational.
Top-Five Team Finishes: None in five tournaments.
Top-Five Individual Finishes: One. One win (Jennifer Coleman).
Begins Spring Season: Feb. 11-13 in Northrop Grumman Regional Challenge in Palos Verdes Estates, Calif.
Notable: The Buffs, who lost three of their top four players from a team that went to the NCAA Finals last season, are rebuilding. But Coleman is ranked 82nd in the nation individually by Golfweek and 86th by Golfstat. She won the Dick McGuire Invitational by a whopping eight strokes.
Colorado State University Men
National Rankings: 59th (Golfstat), 60th (Golfweek)
Best Team Finish: Second in Ram Master Invitational.
Top-Five Team Finishes: Four in six events. One second, two thirds and one fourth.
Top-Five Individual Finishes: Four. Two wins (Jordan Wetsch and Kirby Pettitt), third (Pettitt), fourth (Parker Edens)
Begins Spring Season: Feb. 20-22 in John Burns Intercollegiate in Oahu, Hawaii.
Notable: With three top-four finishes, CSU was knocking on the door of a team title a lot in coach Christian Newton’s first season. But the Rams broke through on the individual end with two victories, one each by senior Pettitt and freshman Wetsch.
CSU Women
National Rankings: 118th (Golfstat), 122nd (Golfweek)
Best Team Finish: Fourth.
Top-Five Team Finishes: One in five events. One fourth.
Top-Five Individual Finishes: One. One fifth (Betsy Kelly).
Begins Spring Season: Feb. 24-25 in Westbrook Spring Invitational in Peoria, Ariz.
Notable: The Rams struggled for most of the fall, but placed fourth in the Give ‘Em Five Intercollegiate. Former assistant coach Susan Jennings is running things this season as interim head coach.
University of Denver Men
National Rankings: 96th (Golfweek), 101st (Golfstat).
Best Team Finish: Third in Lone Star Invitational.
Top-Five Team Finishes: Two in four tournaments. One third and one fourth.
Top-Five Individual Finishes: One. One second (ChunJi Kim)
Begins Spring Season: Feb. 11-12 at Pat Hicks Thunderbird Invitational in St. George, Utah.
Notable: The Pioneers posted two top-four team finishes in four fall events, but they placed in the bottom half of the field in the other two tournaments.
DU Women
National Rankings: 27th (Golfstat), 32nd (Golfweek), 36th (Coaches).
Best Team Finish: Third in Susie Maxwell Berning Classic.
Top-Five Team Finishes: Two in four events. One third and one fifth.
Top-Five Individual Finishes: One. One fifth (Tonje Daffinrud).
Begins Spring Season: Feb. 18-19 in Central District Invitational in Parish, Fla.
Notable: Tonje Daffinrud had an October to remember, posting three top-10 finishes in three events and being named the Western Athletic Conference women’s Golfer of the Month. Daffinrud is ranked 23rd in the nation individually by Golfweek and 29th by Golfstat. Teamwise, DU had a solid fall against good competition, recording two top-five finishes.
University of Northern Colorado Men
National Rankings: 129th (Golfstat), 137th (Golfweek).
Best Team Finish: Seventh three times.
Top-Five Team Finishes: None in five events.
Top-Five Individual Finishes: None.
Begins Spring Season: Feb. 11-12 in Pat Hicks Thunderbird Invitational in St. George, Utah.
Notable: All of UNC’s seventh-place team finishes came in September in Colorado. Eleventh-place individual performances by Ben Krueger and Charlie Mroz are UNC’s best of the fall.
UNC Women
National Rankings: 178th (Golfstat), 188th (Golfweek).
Best Team Finish: 10th in Colby Invitational.
Top-Five Team Finishes: None in four events.
Top-Five Individual Finishes: Two. One third and one fifth, both by Carleigh Silvers.
Begins Spring Season: TBA.
Notable: Senior Carleigh Silvers had a solid fall for UNC, opening the season with two consecutive top-five finishes.
Mission accomplished.
Three Colorado-based Division I teams — the host University of Colorado and conference champions University of Denver and University of Northern Colorado — will be in the 24-school field for the NCAA West Regional set for May 10-12 at Colorado National Golf Club in Erie. And Colorado State senior Brianna Espinoza will be one of six individuals competing.
In addition, freshman Somin Lee, whose hole-in-one during the West Coast Conference Championship helped Pepperdine to the title, will be returning to play in her home state.
The regional fields were announced Monday night by the NCAA Women’s Division I golf committee.
In addition to the local players, the competitors in Erie will include the defending NCAA champion UCLA Bruins and North Dakota State’s Amy Anderson, the 2009 U.S. Girls’ Junior champion.
Four players ranked among the top 10 in women’s college golf will tee it up in Colorado (best national ranking noted): Erynne Lee of UCLA (2); Lee Lopez of UCLA (6); Tiffany Lua of UCLA (7); and Anderson (9).
And four programs in the top 10 national team rankings will be bound for Erie (best national ranking noted): UCLA (1), North Carolina (6), LSU (6) and Cal (9).
“It’s a tough field,” said CU coach Anne Kelly, whose team is seeded fourth in the West Regional. “There are 8-12 really good teams, but all of the regionals have that. That’s what it’s all about. You’ve got to play the best to be the best.”
The top eight team finishers (and two individuals not on those teams) at Colorado National — and each of the other two regional sites in State College, Pa., and Columbus, Ohio — will advance to the Div. I NCAA Championship Finals, set for May 22-25 in Franklin, Tenn.
As a three-time winner this season, and as one of the top 12-ranked teams in the nation, CU is a good bet to advance, especially on its home course. The Buffs, who are headed to just their third NCAA regionals, have never qualified for the national finals. But they are ranked the highest they’ve ever been in program history.
“I think we have a good chance” to go to nationals, Kelly said. “But we have to go out and play our game and not get ahead of ourselves. We’ve been pretty good about that this year. This is a really good team, they work hard and they’re motivated to make it happen.”
It doesn’t help that the tournament falls at the end of CU’s final exams and during graduation — Emily Talley and Jessica Wallace are seniors this year — but the Buffs hope things fall into place.
“We won’t have many team practices between now and the tournament,” Kelly said. “Hopefully the players can get all of their exams done by (May 8). That’s the hard part, having regionals at this time of year.”
As for DU and UNC, they’re both coming off conference victories. The Pioneers claimed their ninth consecutive Sun Belt championship, with freshman Rachael Watton earning the individual title. Northern Colorado won its first Big Sky Conference championship, with sisters Carleigh and Chelsea Silvers finishing 1-2, respectively.
For both DU and UNC, it was their first team title of the season. DU, which has qualified for the NCAA regionals 11 consecutive years, is seeded 15th out of the 24 teams at Colorado National, while UNC is 23rd.
Here are all of the teams that will compete at Colorado National (in order of seeding) — 1. UCLA; 2. LSU; 3. North Carolina; 4. Colorado; 5. California; 6. Baylor; 7. Pepperdine; 8. Cal-Davis; 9. Oklahoma; 10. Texas Tech; 11. Tulsa; 12. TCU; 13. Iowa State; 14. Stanford; 15. Denver; 16. UNLV; 17. New Mexico; 18. Oregon State; 19. Illinois; 20. Kennesaw State; 21. San Jose State; 22. Missouri State; 23. Northern Colorado; 24. Jackson State.
Meanwhile, three teams from Colorado — Colorado Mesa, Colorado State-Pueblo and Adams State — made the women’s Div. II regional field on Monday. They’ll compete May 6-8 in the Central Regional in Elephant Butte, N.M., along with individual qualifiers Nicole Hulbert and Lara Mocs from Regis, and Maria Manrique of Colorado Christian. The top three team finishers will advance to the national finals, set for May 16-19 in Louisville, Ky.
Men’s NCAA Tournaments
The men’s Div. I NCAA regional selections will be announced on May 7.
The men’s Div. II regional lineups were unveiled on Friday, and four teams from Colorado will compete in the West/Central Super Regional May 7-9 in Litchfield Park, Ariz.: Colorado School of Mines, CU-Colorado Springs, Colorado State-Pueblo and Colorado Mesa. In addition, Minkyu Jeon of Colorado Christian and Charlie Laudermilk of Fort Lewis will compete as individuals.
The top five team finishers in each super regional will earn spots in the national finals, set for May 15-19 in Simpsonville, Ky.
Mines, the top seed in the Central Region, won its first conference title since 1968 by capturing the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Spring Championship. All told, the Orediggers have won six tournaments this season.
Senior Jim Knous, who claimed the RMAC individual title, was the RMAC’s Player of the Year.