University of Colorado senior Yannik Paul used a 6-under-par 30 on his front nine to shoot a 5-under 67 and tie for fifth place in the Wyoming Desert Intercollegiate in Palm Desert, Calif. Also in that event, former Colorado state high school champion Spencer Painton and CU teammate John Souza tied for 12th place in the 135-man field, with Painton finishing his round birdie-eagle.

In addition, Colorado resident Josh Seiple, who plays for the University of Mississippi, shared 11th place individually out of 99 players in The All-American tournament in Humble, Texas.

In Palm Desert, against a field that featured six teams ranked in the top 40 nationally, CU finished third out of 23 schools. The Buffs shot under par all three rounds (287-278-280) for a 19-under-par 845 total that left them 28 strokes behind champion Cal. Texas Tech (837) was second. The University of Denver (878) placed 10th.

Paul (pictured) recorded his second top-five individual showing of the season, sixth of his career and second in the Wyoming Desert Intercollegiate. On Sunday, he birdied the 18th hole, giving him seven for the day, en route to a 9-under-par 207 total, leaving him five out of the top spot.

Painton went 72-71-68 and Souza 70-69-72 for 211 totals.

In Texas, Seiple had stellar first and final rounds (67-66) sandwiched around a second-day 77. His 66 on Sunday was bogey-free, with six birdies. The Coloradan finished nine strokes behind individual champion Keenan Huskey of South Carolina.

Sunday marked Seiple’s second 11th-place finish of the season.

Wyoming Desert Intercollegiate
Feb. 16-18, 2018 (final) in Palm Desert, Calif.
3. (out of 23 teams) Colorado 287-278-280—845
5. Yannik Paul 71-69-67–207
12. Spencer Painton 72-71-68–211
12. John Souza 70-69-72–211
44. Daniel O’Loughlin 74-69-76–219
50. Trevor Olkowski 75-72-73–220
83. Cole Krantz (competing only as individual) 76-77-72–225
83. Victor Bjorlow (competing only as individual) 75-75-75–225
131. Wilson Belk (competing only as individual) 82-79-79–240

10. Denver 304-292-282–878
38. Chris Korte 74-74-70–218
44. Isaac Petersilie 77-71-71–219
44. Jake Kelley 75-75-69–219
64. Jackson Solem 78-72-73–223
83. Eric Hagen 78-75-72–225
83. John Sand (competing only as individual) 79-74-72–225
127. Roy Kang (competing only as individual) 80-78-81–239

Also
53. Coloradan Glenn Workman, Wyoming 75-71-75–221

Souza and Yates tied for ninth place at 5-under-par 211 for three rounds at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes in Maricopa, Ariz. They ended up seven strokes behind top finishers Drew McCullough of Richland, Wash., and Blake Hathcoat of Fresno, Calif. After making birdies on his final six holes of regulation to shoot 65 and force a playoff, Hathcoat prevailed on the second hole of sudden death with a par, defeating McCullough, a University of Wyoming golfer who fired a 63 on Thursday.

Souza, a CU senior from Phoenix, posted rounds of 72-70-69, while Yates, a CSU senior from Scottsdale, went 71-70-70.

Also placing in the top 20 on Thursday was Trevor Olkowski of Grand Junction, a CU golfer (74-72-68–214, 16th place).

For all the scores from the Saguaro Amateur, CLICK HERE.
 

The Colorado State University golfer shot a 3-over-par 73 at Riviera Country Club — a PGA Tour venue — and shares 97th place out of 312 competitors at the halfway point of the stroke-play portion of the championship.

The Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado’s male player of the year in 2016, Ott made two birdies, three bogeys and a double bogey on Monday.

Only the top 64 players after Tuesday’s second round of stroke play will advance to match play, which begins on Wednesday. After Monday’s opening round, the 64th position fell at 2 over par.

Meanwhile, former University of Colorado golfer Kenny Coakley started with a 75, good for 152nd place. The rest of the local contingent shook out this way: CSU golfer Jake Staiano, CU player John Souza and the University of Northern Colorado’s Li Chen all had 77s, leaving them in 212th place; and Steve Irwin of Arvada and incoming CSU golfer Parathakorn Suyasri carded 79s for a share of 262nd place.

University of Oregon golfer Norman Xiong, of San Diego, Oklahoma State’s Hayden Wood, of Edmond, Okla., and Virginia Tech’s Mark Lawrence Jr., of Richmond, Va., shot 6-under-par 64s to lead the way after Monday.

Players will switch courses for the second round — going from Riviera to Bel-Air Country Club or vice-versa.

U.S. Amateur
In Pacific Palisades, Calif.
97. AJ Ott of Fort Collins 73 (Riviera)
152. Former CU golfer Kenny Coakley 75 (Riviera)
212. Jake Staiano of Cherry Hills Village 77 (Riviera)
212. Li Chen of Broomfield 77 (Riviera)
212. CU golfer John Souza 77 (Bel-Air)
262. Steve Irwin of Arvada 79 (Riviera)
262. CSU golfer Parathakorn Suyasri 79 (Bel-Air)

For all the scores, CLICK HERE.
 

Workman, set to begin his senior season as a University of Wyoming golfer, is the only player in the 82-man field to have posted two rounds in the 60s. His 3-under-par 68 on Friday left him at 5-under 137 overall, which is good for a three-stroke advantage.

The winner of the Wyoming State Amateur and the low amateur in the Wyoming State Open this summer, Workman (pictured) eagled the 553-yard sixth hole at Sonnenalp and added three birdies and two bogeys in round 2. Through 36 holes, he’s racked up two eagles and nine birdies.

University of Colorado golfer John Souza of Colorado National Golf Club finished in second place for the second straight day as he shares that position with Tristin Goodwin of Wellshire Golf Course.

Souza started round 2 with a double-bogey 7, but backed that up with a birdie 2 and carded a 1-over 72 after playing his last three holes in 2 under par on Friday.

Goodwin made a major charge on the front nine Friday, posting a 6-under-par 30 after concluding that side with four straight birdies. But a double bogey and two bogeys on the back nine resulted in 69.

Cole Nygren of Colorado National, who finished fifth at this event last year, and University of Northern Colorado golfer Sam Marley of South Suburban Golf Course are the only other players under par, sharing fourth place at 1-under 141.

Five players are five back of Workman, including 2015 champion and 2017 CGA Match Play winner Chris Korte of Lone Tree Golf Club and the University of Denver. Also at even-par 142 is two-time U.S. Amateur qualifier Jake Staiano of Glenmoor Country Club, the Colorado State University golfer who finished eighth at last month’s CoBank Colorado Open and shot 69 on Friday despite a triple bogey. Likewise at 142 are first-round leader Kyle Pearson of Meridian Golf Club (75 on Friday), David Leede of Cherry Hills Country Club (72) and Brittain Walton of Collindale Golf Club (72).

The field was cut after 36 holes to the low 40 players and ties. Defending champion Colin Prater of The Broadmoor Golf Club made the cut on the number by shooting a 72 on Friday for a 150 total.

Play will continue through Sunday.

For scores from the Sonnenalp Club, CLICK HERE.
 

The 18-year-old from Highlands Ranch (pictured) made an eagle and six birdies on Thursday en route to a 4-under-par 67 at the Sonnenalp Club in Edwards. That gave the incoming Colorado Mesa University golfer a one-stroke lead with three rounds left in the championship.

The 2016 5A state high school champion and 2017 CGA Match Play runner-up, Pearson eagled the 553-yard sixth hole and sprinkled six birdies and four bogeys over his card. Not bad for a guy who played five rounds in three days Monday through Wednesday at the Colorado Junior Match Play.

John Souza of Colorado National Golf Club, a University of Colorado golfer, stands in second place after a round of 68 which featured five birdies.

University of Denver golfer Chris Korte from Lone Tree Golf Club, who’s attempting to become the first person since 2009 to sweep the CGA Match Play and Amateur titles in the same year, opened with a 69, leaving him tied for third place with Glenn Workman of Desert Hawk Golf Course in Pueblo West. Workman, a University of Wyoming golfer, played his final six holes in 4 under par. Korte won the CGA Amateur two years ago.

In all, 10 players broke par in round 1, which was delayed twice by lightning, for a total of 2 1/2 hours.

Defending champion Colin Prater of The Broadmoor Golf Club struggled to a 7-over-par 78 in round 1, leaving him in 58th place.

The field will be cut from 83 to the top 40 players and ties after Friday’s second round, then the championship will continue through Sunday.

This year marks the first time since 2003 that the CGA Amateur has been contested in western Colorado.

For scores from the Sonnenalp Club, CLICK HERE.
 

The University of Oregon senior, the 2010 CGA Amateur champion who won the individual Pac-12 Championship at Boulder Country Club on April 30, uncharacteristically played the par-5s in 2 over par on Monday, recording a 7 and a 6 in the process. But his five birdies, including one on the final hole, got him back to even par.

The Coloradan (pictured) trails leader Sam Burns of host LSU by seven strokes heading into round 2 of the 54-hole tournament. The top five team finishers and the top individual not on those teams will advance to the NCAA Finals, set for May 26-31 in Sugar Grove, Ill. Clark’s Oregon squad sits in third place in the team standings.

Meanwhile, at the West Lafayette, Ind., Regional, the University of Colorado struggled to an 11th-place standing in the 13-team field. The Buffs, the only Colorado-based team to earn a berth in the Division I Regionals, shot a 16-over-par 304 and trail leader UNLV by 17 strokes. CU is 12 strokes behind the crucial fifth-place spot.

Yannik Paul and John Souza led the Buffs individually, sharing 37th place at 75.

And in the Austin, Texas Regional, two former Valor Christian High School teammates, Jake Staiano of Colorado State and Josh Seiple of Mississippi, are tied for 24th place individually at 73. Seiple’s Ole Miss team is second in the team race. Scottie Scheffler of Texas leads the regional individually at 66.

MEN’S NCAA DIV. I REGIONALS

May 15-17, 2017 in West Lafayette, Ind.
11. (out of 13 teams) Colorado 304
37. Yannik Paul 75
37. John Souza 75
53. Ethan Freeman 77
53. Victor Bjorlow 77
60. Spencer Painton 78

May 15-17, 2017 in Baton Rouge, La.
11. Coloradan Wyndham Clark, Oregon 72

May 15-17, 2017 in Austin Texas
24. Jake Staiano, Colorado State 73
24. Coloradan Josh Seiple, Mississippi 73
 

Back in September, the women’s team’s Esther Lee set the women’s NCAA record for low round in relation to par with an 11-under-par 61.

Then on Saturday at the Classic Club in Palm Desert, Calif., the CU men’s team shot the lowest single-round team score — in relation to par — in college golf this season as the Buffs posted a 22-under 266 in the Wyoming Desert Intercollegiate. CU sports information director Dave Plati also said it was the lowest round in program history by five shots, relative to par.

CU put all four of its score-counting players in the 60s to move into second place, four strokes behind Coloradan Wyndham Clark’s tournamant-leading Oregon squad with one round remaining in the 22-team tournament.

Jeremy Paul (pictured with CU coach Roy Edwards) fired an 8-under-par 64 — matching the best score in team history, relative to par — despite bogeying the par-5 final hole. Fellow senior Ethan Freeman posted a 66 with an eagle, junior John Souza a 67 and junior Yannik Paul a 69. With that 266 team total, the Buffs stand at 19-under 557.

“It was one of those special days,” Edwards told CUBuffs.com. “Things kind of fell into place from start to finish, and we had a few breaks here and there. So you have to enjoy these days when they come around because you don’t shoot this low very often. Simply just a great day by the guys. They were awesome.” 

Jeremy Paul and Clark, the No. 1-ranked college player in the country, share third place individually at 7-under-par 137, sitting five strokes behind Clark’s Oregon teammate Norman Xiong (67-65). Freeman (141) is also in the top 10, sharing eighth place. Clark carded a bogey-free 7-under-par 65 on Saturday.

All of the golfers comprising CU’s team are in the top 20 individually, with Souza (12th at 142), Yannik Paul (14th at 143) and Spencer Painton (20th at 144) rounding out the five.

(Update: For the final results from the tournament, CLICK HERE.)
 

Wyoming Desert Intercollegiate
Feb. 17-19, 2017 in Palm Desert, Calif.
2. (out of 22 teams) Colorado 291-266–557
3. Jeremy Paul 73-64–137
8. Ethan Freeman 75-66–141
12. John Souza 75-67–142
14. Yannik Paul 74-69–143
20. Spencer Painton 69-75–144
25. Ryan Schmitz (competing only as individual) 76-69–145
60. Wilson Belk (competing only as individual) 79-71–150
82. Victor Bjorlow (competing only as individual) 76-77–153

13. Denver 304-293–597
25. Petter Mikalsen 71-74–145
39. Jake Kelley 75-72–147
82. Eric Hagen 79-74–153
82. Isaac Petersilie 79-74–153
124. Chris Korte X-73
90. Roy Kang (competing only as individual) 79-75–154
113. Troy Dangler (competing only as individual) 84-75–149

Also
3. Coloradan Wyndham Clark, Oregon 72-65–137
55. Coloradan Glenn Workman, Wyoming 76-73–149
 

The Phoenix resident shot a 1-over-par 72 in the final round to post a 1-over 214 total at Sewailo Golf Club. That was one better than runner-up Travis McInroe, a freshman at Baylor who closed with a 68.

Souza, the 2015 winner of the national junior college Division II Phil Mickelson Outstanding Freshman Award, carded rounds of 75-67-72. He made four birdies, three bogeys and a double bogey in the final round.

“I am just happy because I haven’t been in contention in a little while and to be able to pull it out, even though I stumbled (coming) in, is huge for me going forward,” Souza said. “Knowing I had the lead coming in and coming out victorious is a big confidence booster.”

A total of 42 players, including numerous Coloradans, competed in the first Gobbler Amateur. CU men’s head coach Roy Edwards is the chairman of the tournament.

For the Gobbler Amateur scores, CLICK HERE.
 

Three past champions share the lead at the halfway point of the $250,000 CoBank Colorado Open, and, amazingly enough, one of them is competing in his first tournament in two years.

Former University of Colorado golfer Jonathan Kaye, a two-time winner on the PGA Tour whose last tournament was the 2014 Colorado Open, shot a 7-under-par 65 on Friday at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club to vault into a tie for first place with Zahkai Brown of Arvada and Wil Collins of Albuquerque, N.M.

“For not having played in a long time, I can’t complain,” said Kaye (pictured), the 1996 Colorado Open champ who now resides in Boulder during the summer.

Kaye, who will turn 46 on Aug. 2, won PGA Tour events in 2003 and 2004, and has earned more than $10.5 million on that circuit, but he last competed in 2014. That year, he played three Web.com Tour events and the Colorado Open, where he shot 78-77 and missed the cut.

But this week is a totally different matter as Kaye has carded an eagle, 13 birdies and just three bogeys in two days at GVR. He’s posted scores of 67-65 for a 12-under-par total.

“I’ve hit it really good,” he said. “I’m just cruising along. We’ll see tomorrow, right? But I’m swinging nice and I’m hitting my irons good. I seem to be pulling the right clubs and have my yardages down. If everything holds, just keep doing the same thing.”

All in all, it’s been pretty impressive for a guy who plays golf casually two or three times a week.

“What I don’t do is practice — and it really shows,” Kaye said. “I go out there and I play OK, but you can see on my short game and stuff, I haven’t been practicing. But I tried to make a commitment to myself to try to get out to work on my short game just a little bit before this so I didn’t look like a complete moron, and it seems to be going pretty good.”

Kaye finds himself at the top of the leaderboard with two guys who compete nearly week in and week out on mini tours, state opens and the like. Collins, winner of the Colorado Open in 2005, backed up his course-record-tying 62 Thursday with a 70 on Friday. And Brown, the champion three years ago, has gone 67-65 like Kaye.

This has become the routine in recent years for Brown (left), the former Colorado State University golfer who has recorded three top-two finishes in the last four Colorado Opens. In addition to his win in 2013, the former CGA Player of the Year placed second in 2012 and last year.

“I’ve been playing really well this year. I’ve been hitting it really well,” said Brown, who’s captured four mini-tour titles in 2016 and gotten his Web.com Tour qualifying entry fees paid. “I love this golf course and it suits my game. I was excited coming into this event.”

The long-hitting Brown hit each of the four par-5s in two on Friday and two-putted for four birdies there. On the 635-yard 18th hole, he smacked a drive 435 yards, leaving him with just a 200-yard approach to the green.

With being in contention three of the last four years, Brown has no doubt formulated an effective game plan for GVR.

“I’ve been hitting my driver really well, so obviously I’ll try to hit the par-5s in two again (and) drive 4 and 14 (two sub-350-yard par-4s). If I play those holes solid and birdie a few others, it should be tough to beat if you go out there and shoot a 64 or whatnot. (Great scores are) out there; the greens are perfect.”

Collins, who played regularly on the PGA Tour in 2009 and has qualified for two U.S. Opens, picked up Friday where he left off Thursday as he started birdie-eagle in round 2. But three bogeys in the stretch from holes 6 through 9 set him back a little before he birdied each of the par-5s on the back nine.

“I came out sharp, then I paid the price for some sloppy routines,” the 37-year-old said. “That put me back on my heels a bit, but I told myself to stay positive. The course is in such great shape and the weather has been perfect. I knew there would be some birdies. At least I got the two par-5s on the back side to get in red numbers for the day.

“I hate to say it’s never easy to follow up a great round, but there were some positives out there again today.”

And Kaye, Brown and Collins have plenty of players right on their heels as scoring conditions continued to be ideal at GVR. Neil Johnson of Phoenix (69 Friday), Grant Doverspike of Bakersfield, Calif. (66) and Martin Trainer of Palo Alto, Calif. (69) share fourth place one back of the leaders.

Two-time champion Derek Tolan of Highlands Ranch checked in at 10-under 134 after a 68 Friday. Also at that figure is one-time PGA Tour winner Parker McLachlin and German Max Rottluff, each of whom shot a second-round 64.

With little wind and true-rolling greens, it’s no great surprise that a record-low score was necessary to make the 36-hole cut. Three-under-par, three better than the next-lowest cut figure in tournament history, was the standard for this year, with 64 players advancing to the weekend.

Among those who will be around for Saturday and Sunday is part-time Denver resident Kevin Stadler, winner of the 2014 Waste Management Phoenix Open on the PGA Tour. Stadler, competing in his first tournament in over a year, shot a 5-under-par 67 and stands at 4-under 140.

Notable: Five amateurs made the cut on Friday. Setting the standard are Colorado State University golfer Jake Staiano of Cherry Hills Village and University of Colorado golfer John Souza of Phoenix, who checked in at 8-under-par 136, good for a share of 12th place overall. Staiano shot a 68 Friday and Souza a 67. … Derek Barron of Tacoma, Wash., was disqualied after Friday’s round because he failed to sign his scorecard. Barron was 9 under par — just three behind the leaders. … Keith Clearwater, one of four winners of PGA Tour events in the field, withdrew during Friday’s second round due to a foot injury. He was 4 over par through 30 holes. … Sherry Andonian-Smith of Denver, the first female competitor in the history of the Colorado Open, carded rounds of 86-85 for a 27-over-par 171 total. … The leaders will tee off at 9:25 a.m. for Saturday’s third round.

For scores from the Colorado Open CLICK HERE.
 

For Saturday tee times, CLICK HERE.

For a story on Gunner Wiebe’s return from a freak accident two months ago, CLICK HERE.