Colorado men’s golf headed to 2025 National Championship

The Buffs punched their ticket to the 2025 National Championship in Carlsbad, California. (Left to Right: Dylan McDermott, Jack Holland, Justin Biwer, coaches Roy Edwards and Derek Tolan, Hunter Swanson, Ty Holbrook and Brandon Knight) (Photo by Ashton Scott/cubuffs.com)

BREMERTON, Wash. – The Colorado Buffaloes punched their ticket to the 2025 NCAA National Championship with a third-place finish in the Northwest Regional Championship on Wednesday.

The top five teams from each of the six regionals move on to the big dance, starting on May 23 in Carlsbad, California. 

The Buffs shot 4-under at the three-round regional, five strokes clear of the cut line. The No. 8-ranked Florida Gators won the regional with a score of 28-under, and the No. 5 Arizona State Sun Devils placed second (-25).  

The No. 17-ranked Utah Utes entered the final day at 8-over but miraculously shot 7-under in the third round. Unfortunately for the Utes, the turnaround was a little too late as they placed sixth and missed the cut by one stroke. 

Hunter Swanson shot 5-under in Washington, the best score by any Buff. The junior placed seventh at the tournament, his highest individual finish since the first tournament of the season (fourth). Swanson carried the team in the second round, shooting 4-under. The three other Buffs shot a combined 4-over, evening out the team score to par. 

Justin Biwer was the only other Buffalo to shoot under par (-2). The San Diego native struggled in the first two rounds, shooting a combined 3-over. Biwer’s experience kicked in on the final day, and he shot a team-low 5-under in the third round, good for a No. 12 finish.

Dylan McDermott started the tournament on fire. The senior had two eagles in the first round en route to a 2-under performance. In the second and third rounds, McDermott was unable to replicate his early success. He finished 4-over and placed No. 33 individually. 

Sophomores Ty Holbrook and Brandon Knight finished 6-over, good for a tie at No. 43. Both golfers shot 1-over in the second round. Knight was left off the team score in the first round (+5), while Holbrook was left off in the third with a 4-over. 

Jack Holland was sent as a substitute to Washington but was not needed. Despite not swinging a club at the tournament, Holland brought valuable insights to the team from playing at the 2023 NCAA National Championship. 

The rest of the Buffs are no strangers to the spotlight either. Three quintet members, Biwer, Swanson and McDermott, helped Colorado advance to the 2023 NCAA National Championship. The black and gold also placed third in their regional that year, yet failed to make the first cut at the tournament. 

Now upperclassmen, the seasoned veterans can use their experience to turn nerves into confidence on the biggest stage of the year.