CU Men's Golf: Summer Update No. 2

BOULDER – The second of the three annual summer updates on happenings with the University of Colorado men's golf team:

ACADEMIC HONORS
The Golf Coaches Association of American (GCAA) announced its annual Division I Cobalt Golf All-America Scholars for the 2024-25 season on July 29, with recent graduates Justin Biwer and Jack Holland both named to the team. For Biwer, who earned his degree in Business (Finance), it was the third time he was named to the prestigious team; he joined former teammates Kristoffer Max and John Paterson (2020-21-22) as three-time honorees in Buff history. It was the second time for Holland, who graduated with a bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering (and with the team's best grade point average of 3.72).

2024-25 CLASS UPDATES

Tucker Clark in one of his last tournaments as an amateur, he tied for fifth in the Arizona Stroke Play Championship on July 13. He finished 15-under par (65-68-68-68—269); the medalist was a crazy 27-under. He earned $360 in merchandise.
Dylan McDermott shot a 5-under 66 with six birdies and one bogey in the pre-qualifier on July 14 for the PGA Tour's Barracuda Championship (at Schaffer's Mill Golf Club in Truckee, Calif.). He tied for third with four others for the final two spots, but lost in a playoff for one of those spots.
Brandon Knight had a solid performance in the Trans-Miss Championship, tying for 24th with a 69-71-70-75—285 (+1) performance on Indiana University's Pfau Course. Ty Holbrook missed the cut, tying for 71st (72-72—144, +2), while Hunter Swanson struggled in the first round but put a better score up the second time around (79-72—151, +9).
Justin Biwer and Holbrook both attempted to qualify for the Korn Ferry at TPC Colorado (The Ascendant presented by Blue, July 10-13); they both played well, carding 5-under 67s, but each fell one stroke short of qualifying for the tournament.

Southern California transfer Jackson Rivera advanced to final qualifying for the U.S. Amateur in June, but miss the cut at Rancho Santa Fe by four shots to reach the August event; former Buff Robert Keilch ('24) had also advanced, but he came up two strokes shy.
Rivera tied for third in the Silverado Amateur on July 29, posting a 71-75-68—214 (-2) effort – one off the lead – on the North Course at Silverado Golf Club in Napa, Calif.
Hunter Swanson was the medalist in the U.S. Amateur Final Qualifying on July 17, recording a 32-35—67 (-5), winning by two strokes at Columbine Country Club. He had an eagle, four birdies and 12 pars with just a single bogey. The few days before, Swanson was also on the bag, caddying for CU junior Carolyn Fuller when she won the CGA Women's Stroke Play at Eisenhower Golf Club on July 16. Ty Holbrook shot a 1-under 71 (35-36), and is the second alternate.
Zeqian "Michael" Fang has been playing in China in professional events, most recently finishing 10th in the CLPGQ Orient Xiamen with a 5-under 68-72-71—211 performance (he was the eighth amateur).

PACIFIC COAST AMATEUR
          Four current Buffaloes participated in the 58th Annual Pacific Coast Amateur (July 22-25) at Eugene (Oregon) Country Club, which played fairly tough. The field was cut to low 50 plus ties after three rounds, of which the average score on the par-71 course was 73.5. Sophomore Parker Paxton made the third round cut and finished in a tie for 27th (74-72-70-73—289, +5). Senior Hunter Swanson and junior Brandon Knight tied for 79th with 12-over 225 totals (the cut was at 7-over): Swanson's rounds were 78-72-75, Knight's 76-76-73; junior Ty Holbrook tied for 96th (71-78-80—229, +16).

COLORADO OPEN REPRISE
            Eight Buffaloes – two recent team members, one current and five alumni qualified for this year's Inspirato Colorado Open (July 24-27) on the 7,252-yard, par-71 Green Valley Ranch course in northeast Denver.

          Tucker Clark ('25), who finished as the third low amateur in 2024 (281, -3), had the special moment of the week, as he was co-medalist in the final qualifying at CommonGround GC the Monday prior. He carded an 8-under par 63, and what made it extra special was the fact it was his first event competing as a professional. He then went on to flirt for the title, in third place through three rounds and three out of the lead before tying for 20th (69-68-63-74—274, -10), still cashing a check in his first event as a pro.

          Two other Buffaloes had pay days: Derek Fribbs ('13) recorded a 67-72-67-71—277 (-7) scorecard, tying him for 30th, with CU associate head coach Derek Tolan ('09) 67-70-73-77—287 (+3) finished 62nd. Matthew Zions ('02) and Pat Grady ('09) both played as amateurs; Zions shot 73-66-68-69-277 (-7), while Grady turned in a 70-70-68-71—279 (-5) performance; they finished as the second and third low amateurs (tying for 30th and 46th overall).

          Three Buffs missed the cut, two by just one stroke (the cut was 2-under): Justin Biwer ('25) and USC transfer Jackson Rivera both posted 70-71—141 scorecards, while Dan Sniffin ('00) recorded an 80-76—156 effort.

QUICK TURNAROUND
          The day after the Colorado open, Tucker Clark hustled home to play in the Arizona Open at Papago Golf Club in Phoenix (July 28-30); he opened with a 3-under 67 and then carded a 2-under 68; he stood tied for 10th heading into Wednesday's final round easily making the 36-hole cut.   He's the only Buff in the field, despite several alums establishing roots in the area.

ALUMNI NOTES

Mike Brenneman ('04) the fifth-ranked mid-amateur in Arizona and on May 31, tied for 14th in the Arizona Stroke Play Championship (69-66-66-75—276, -8). He was the second-to-last threesome in Sunday's final round, one of the players being CU's Tucker Clark (see result above). He also tried to qualify for the U.S. Amateur, shooting a 1-over 73 in the final qualifier in Scottsdale (at the CC of DC Ranch).
Joshua Creel ('10) was the only player with ties to CU who played in The Ascendant presented by Blue at TPC Colorado the second week of July; he missed the cut by three strokes after carding a 70-75—145 scorecard. Creel started out as a freshman at CU in 2009-10 before transferring to the University of Central Oklahoma.
Hale Irwin ('67). I asked Hale what he has been up to—no better way to relay other than to copy his response to me: "I haven't played in an official event for 4.5 years, although I do play in some outings whenever the occasion is right. So I guess that I'm retired! Sally and I make periodic trips to "get away," particularly in the summer, and we try to keep up with the grandkids as much as possible. That's pretty much what I do, coupled with the occasional business venture to oil the skids!"
Steve Jones ('81) has been at his summer getaway, fishing in Montana but recently returned to good 'ol Yuma for his mother's 90th birthday; he is on schedule to return to action in the Boeing Classic (Aug. 8-10) in Snoqualmie, Wash.; that's the same event he made his '24 return with (he stood at 76-74—150 through 36 holes, but withdrew during the third round).
Jeremy Paul ('17) is in his first year on the PGA Tour, and to date has made the cut in nine of 20 tournaments; he has one top 5 finish and has earned $675,000 thus far. He is 128th in the FedEx Cup Standings with 271 points, with his best July finish a tie for 33rd in the John Deere Classic (274, -10).
Yannik Paul ('18) is currently ranked 112th in the race to Dubai and has won over 200,000 Euros in 17 tournaments thus far this season. The top 50 players in the DP World Tour Rankings at the end of the season qualify for the Race to Dubai finale (the top 70 players compete in the Abu Dhabi Championship the week before.)

LATEST WORLD AMATEUR RANKINGS
Here's where the Buffaloes ranked in the latest World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR) as of July 23: Justin Biwer (#91), Dylan McDermott (#121), Hunter Swanson (#477), Zeqian "Michael" Fang (#514); Ty Holbrook (#623), Brandon Knight (#662), Freddy Eisenbeis (#809), Tucker Clark (#1079), Parker Paxton (#1359), Tyler Long (#1662), Jack Holland (#1730) and Jackson Rivera (#3908; he was ranked as high as #102 before injuries set it in, he'll zoom back up fairly quickly). Incoming freshman Casey Kosney is not yet ranked.

LOOKING AHEAD

Tucker Clark is still planning to play in the DP World Tour Qualifying in Bristol, England (Aug. 26-29), with a tune-up ahead of that in an Asher Tour event at Dove Canyon (Aug. 18-19).
Four Buffaloes begin play Wednesday through Saturday in the 89th Colorado Amateur (formerly the state's stroke play event). Current Buffs Ty Holbrook and Hunter Swanson will be joined by alums Patrick Grady and Matthew Zions in the 72-hole event at the Walnut Creek Golf Preserve in Westminster.
Zions at present is the only Buff set to play in the CGA Western Championship at Battlement Mesa Golf Club, August 8-10. Dave Roylance ('71) is also the only CU grad to be registered to play in the Super Senior Amateur Championship at Meadow Hills Golf Club on August 11-12.
At present, three Buffaloes are officially in the U.S. Amateur, Justin Biwer, Parker Paxton and Hunter Swanson, with Ty Holbrook having alternate status. The event is set for August 11-17 at the Olympic Club in San Francisco (Lake and Ocean courses).
Derek Fribbs ('13) will be looking to defend his title in the Utah Open, August 15-17, at Riverside Country Club in Provo, Utah. He also won the 2021 event; Larry Webb ('71) also was a two-time champ in the event (1977, 1982).
Freddy Eisenbeis ('25) earned an exemption into the DP World Tour's Omega European Masters (August 28-31) when he won the Oliver Barras Memorial in Switzerland on June 26.
Jack "Dutchy" Holland is back home in Australia and has been playing in small local events. He is set to compete in the DP World Tour Q-School from September 16-19.

16TH ANNUAL COLORADO GOLF DAY SET FOR AUGUST 25
The 16th annual Colorado Golf Day, the team's major fundraiser that annually has brought together coaches, current and former players and supporters of the program, is set once against at Boulder Country Club for Monday, August 25.

Head coach Roy Edwards created the popular event in 2010. Individuals and foursomes can play in the event, which starts with an informal lunch before a 1:30 p.m. shotgun start with a "shamble" format. Each group will be paired with a CU golf celebrity or a special guest (team members, coaches, staff and others). Awards and heavy appetizers are post-golf.

To register (please sign up online and if you need more information or any help registering online please contact Quinn Roche at quinn.roche@colorado.edu). Sign up by purchasing a sponsorship, a team of four, an individual, or purchase a hole sign sponsorship here at this link: https://cvent.me/vAGVzR.

Players Mentioned

Justin Biwer

Tucker Clark

Freddy Eisenbeis

Ty Holbrook

Jack Holland

Brandon Knight

Kristoffer Max

Dylan McDermott

John Paterson

Parker Paxton

Hunter Swanson

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