The in-state showdown between CU and CSU will kick off a week early on a beautiful green patch of grass. It just won’t be at Folsom Field.
The CU men’s golf team will participate in an exhibition match against CSU in the inaugural State of Colorado Cup on Saturday at the Ballyneal Golf Club in Holyoke.
This is a premier match for CU and CSU because for one, head coach Roy Edwards said the golf course was “one of the best 100 courses in the world.” But more importantly, Edwards said the purpose of the State of Colorado Cup is to “spotlight both programs and the state.”
“I think it would be a great way to start the season,” Edwards said. “It will be a good indicator at where the team is at for the moment.”
Edwards also said the event would differ from a typical golf tournament.
“This is a unique event,” Edwards said. “Unlike a tournament, it becomes more like football or basketball where two teams are playing against each other.”
The match will be played in a format similar to the Ryder Cup. This format traditionally consists of four four-ball matches and 12 individual matches. The winner of each match scores a point for their team, and half a point is scored for any match tied after 18 holes.
A modified version of the Ryder Cup style will be played during this match. It will begin at 8 a.m. with three four-ball matches and continue with seven individual matches at 1 p.m. There will be a total of 10 points, with each being scored at one point per match and half a point for halved matches.
The CU players participating in the Cup are: Justin Bardgett, Michael Imperato, Josh Creel, Sebastian Heisele, Johnny Widmer, Kevin Kring and Jason Burstyn.
CU’s young golf team will be competing against a more experienced CSU team. Half of CSU’s roster consists of seniors compared to Bardgett, CU’s lone senior.
Luke Symons is redshirting his senior year because of a tear in his hip, which he played on last season.
Bardgett, though, said he has high hopes for the team.
“Hopefully we will win, but I hope that everyone plays well,” Bardgett said. “CSU has a pretty good team, so we will all have to play well to come out on top.”
Imperato, a junior, agreed with Bardgett.
“We don’t get to play them very often and when we do, we need to bring our ‘A’ game,” Imperato said.
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Michelle Davenport at Davenpmn@colorado.edu
