Colorado men’s golf ties for third at Tucker Invitational

Colorado Buffaloes golfer Ty Holbrook has been lethal thus far this season, playing well at the Tucker Intercollegiate in New Mexico. (Photo via CUBuffs.com)

Colorado Buffaloes men’s golf didn’t leave Albuquerque empty-handed this weekend, but its bid to repeat as kings of the desert found the bunker. 

The Buffaloes surged back from a sluggish start to finish tied for third at 15-under-par. Long Beach State took home the team title at 23-under, while host New Mexico finished runner-up five shots back at 18-under. 

After sitting in 11th following the opening round, Colorado roared back in the second, posting 17-under (271), the lowest round of the tournament. It also tied for the second-best single round in Colorado school history.  

Like at the season debut in Pullman, Ty Holbrook led the Buffs, tying for seventh at 6-under (68-69-73). Holbrook took advantage of the par-5s, playing them at 8-under for the week. The junior is now 18-under on par-5s this fall.

Sophomore Parker Paxton posted three straight 71s to tie for 19th, while junior Brandon Knight carded a career-best 66 in the second round to tie for 24th. Senior Hunter Swanson bounced back from an opening 78 with an impressive 7-under 65, the second-lowest round of the field, to finish tied for 27th. 

Meanwhile, graduate transfer Jackson Rivera tied for 55th at 218, highlighted by a bogey-free card in Saturday’s second round. Freshman Tyler Long matched Rivera at 218 with nine birdies in the tournament.

"It was a good event for us overall," Colorado head coach Roy Edwards said. “Saturday we started a little bit slow, but everyone fought hard.  The hole locations were tougher, what they almost always are for the final round. It was a very consistent day from all six players.”

CU returns to action Sept. 29 for the Mark Simpson Invitational at Colorado National Golf Club. It is the first of two consecutive tournaments the Buffs will play in their home state this season.