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.

Walker Franklin of Broomfield, who finished second individually in the Class 3A state tourney last fall, scored a seven-stroke victory in the boys division of the JGAC Spring Tour event at the Country Club of Colorado in Colorado Springs.

And Amy Chitkoksoong of Aurora, the reigning 5A state high school individual champion, posted a one-shot win in the girls division in Colorado Springs. (Franklin and Chitkoksoong are pictured.)

Franklin, son of Canadian Golf Hall of Famer and University of Colorado women’s assistant coach Brent Franklin and 1986 CWGA Stroke Play champion Kristine (Hoos) Franklin, ran away with the title in the 62-player boys event by carding rounds of 72-71. That left the 16-year-old with a 1-over-par 143 total. He made seven birdies over the course of two days.

Tying for second place at 150 on Sunday were former 4A state champion Luke Trujillo of Colorado Springs, Jake Welch of Highlands Ranch and John McGinley of Casper, Wyo., all of whom went 74-76.

Meanwhile, Chitkoksoong recorded rounds of 80-76 for a 14-over-par 156 total to earn the girls title. The 17-year-old fended off Brittlynn Jade O’Dell of Grand Junction, who posted a tournament-best 73 on Sunday to check in at 157. After shooting an 84 on Saturday, O’Dell played her first 12 holes in 1 under on Sunday. But a bogey on her final hole dropped her out of a tie for the lead.

Maxine Choi of Colordo Springs (84-77) and Kaylee Chen of Denver (80-81) tied for third place out of a field of 23 girls.

For scores from the Country Club of Colorado event, click on the following: BOYS, GIRLS.

(April 29 Update: Chitkoksoong also won the second JGAC Tour event of the year, which concluded April 29 at Walking Stick Golf Course in Pueblo. With a 5-over-par 149 total, she posted a two-stroke victory. In the boys division, Trujillo turned the tables from the Country Club of Colorado tournament, winning while Franklin finished second. Trujillo posted a winning total of 2-under-par 142, which gave him a one-shot edge on Franklin. For scores from Walking Stick, click on the following: BOYS, GIRLS)

In her first tournament of the new campaign, the Westminster resident not only claimed the individual title at the Ocean Course Invitational, but she cruised to a seven-stroke victory on Tuesday.

Kupcho, a Wake Forest junior who finished second on Friday at the CoBank Colorado Women’s Open before heading to Kiawah Island, S.C., for the Ocean Course Invite, notched her fourth college win in the last 11 months.

Moreover, in her last six college events, dating back to mid-March, Kupcho has posted two victories and finished second three times and third once. That stretch includes her runner-up showing in the Women’s NCAA Finals in May.

Kupcho, the No. 3-ranked women’s amateur in the world, shot rounds of 69-68-70 for a 13-under-par 207 total on The Ocean Course, which is perhaps most famous for hosting the 1991 “War by the Shore” Ryder Cup Matches. Placing a distant second at 214 on Tuesday was Laura Kowohl of North Carolina State.

Kupcho, the Canadian Women’s Amateur champion, made 16 birdies over the course of 54 holes.

“Jennifer played awesome over all three rounds on a championship course,” Wake Forest coach Dianne Dailey said. “To shoot three consecutive rounds under par on this course is just outstanding golf.”

Canon Olkowski of Grand Junction rallied from an eight-stroke deficit going into the final round to win the boys tourney by one at the Country Club of Colorado in Colorado Springs.

And Hailey Schalk of Erie, the 2016 Colorado Junior Match Play champion, wasn’t seriously challenged in posting an eight-stroke victory in the girls competition. (The two winners are pictured.)

Olkowski, brother of 2016 JGAC Tour Championship winner Trevor Olkowski, rebounded from a first-round 77 to card a 1-over-par 72 on Sunday, giving him a two-day total of 7-over 149. Canon, 16, notched four birdies in round 2, offset by three bogeys and a double bogey.

Luke Trujillo of Colorado Springs, who led after an opening-round 69, tied for second at 150 following an 81 on Sunday. Particularly costly was a quadruple-bogey 7 on his 17th hole Sunday. Also sharing second place was University of Colorado-bound Cole Krantz of Windsor, who closed with a 71, the low score on Sunday.

In the girls tournament, the 15-year-old Schalk carded back-to-back rounds of 74 for a 6-over-par 148 total. On Sunday, she overcame a triple-bogey 8 with three birdies, and added three bogeys.

Lauren Lehigh of Loveland finished second at 156 after a second-round 77. Amisha Singh of Greenwood Village took third place at 157 after closing with an 80.

The tournament in Colorado Springs marked the beginning of the “spring points chase”. The top three boys and top three girls in the points standings after three spring Tour events will earn spots in the AJGA Hale Irwin Colorado Junior by Transamerica that’s being hosted by Walnut Creek Golf Preserve (the former Heritage at Westmoor) June 6-8.

For scores from this weekend’s JGAC Tour event, click on the following: BOYS, GIRLS.
 

JGAC Series Opener at Pueblo CC: Meanwhile, the first JGAC Series event of 2017 also concluded on Sunday — in this case at Pueblo Country Club.

The winners for the various age/gender divisions were: Mario Dino of Denver (boys 14-18), Katelyn Lehigh of Loveland (girls 14-18), Matai Naqica of Centennial (boys 11-13), Sofia Choi of Littleton (girls 11-13), Andre Dumonteil of Centennial and Kaden Devenport of Windsor (boys 6-10), and Ashleigh Wilson of Highlands Ranch (girls 6-10).

For all the scores from Pueblo Country Club, CLICK HERE.