The CU men’s golf team came into the Pac-12 fall preview tournament at the renowned Hollow Course at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club in Portland, Ore. with high hopes. The 32nd ranked Buffaloes started the 2012 season strong, with one victory and two second place finishes at the three tournaments they had played thus far this fall. After the second round on the first day, however, their hopes were crushed.
The first round was decent as the Buffs shot a 5-over par 293, to put them in sixth place. During the second round it all came apart though. The Buffs shot an abysmal 13-over 273 to sink them all the way into last place.
They never climbed out of 12th place, coming within one stroke of Utah in the third round but finishing 6 strokes back of 11th place. This was the first time the Buffs finished in last place in a tournament since 2005.
Senior Jason Burstyn was the highest Buff finisher with a 2-over 218 score to finish in a tie for 26th place.
University of California, who came in ranked first in the country, won the tournament finishing seven strokes above second place University of Washington. Washington’s Trevor Simsby took the individual crown, however, with an 11-under 205, finishing just one stroke ahead of Arizona State University’s Jon Rahm.
The Pac-12 is the only conference to have a tournament of this nature. No other conference has a tournament featuring all members until the spring conference championship.
With nine of the 12 schools ranked in the top 50, this was a good chance for conference members and the nation to get a good look at how teams will shape up in the coming season.
The Buffs play their last tournament of the fall at the Alister Mackenzie Invitational in Fairfax, Calif. on Oct. 15-16.
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Scott Annis at Robert.annis@colorado.edu.