Paxton recorded his collegiate best -- a 6-under par 65 -- to pace the Buffaloes in the final round.
Photo by: Roy Edwards
Golfers Tie For Third In Season Opener
September 10, 2025 | Men's Golf
Paxton, Swanson Lead Buffaloes As Both Tie For Fifth
PULLMAN, Wash. — The University of Colorado men's golf team moved up one spot here Wednesday to finish in a tie for third place in Washington State's Palouse Collegiate, the opening event in CU's 102nd season of varsity competition
Host Washington State, with four players in the top nine, cruised to the win with a 45-under par team score of 807. The COugas held off Santa Clara, who finished six strokes back with an 813 score, while Colorado and the University of the Pacific tying for third with 28-under 824 tallies. Boise State rounded out the top five with an 829 total.
Colorado, ranked 26th in the preseason by Golfweek, recorded subpar team scores all three rounds, with the 28-under effort the eighth best 54-hole team score in relation to par in school history (fourth-best for a par-71 course). The 824 gross count became the fourth-lowest entry in the Buff record book.
"'We learned a lot about the team this week," head coach Roy Edwards said. "I believe it's going to be a special group who has a high desire to compete. As we move forward consistency and continuing to have a deeper understanding of our Golf IQ will be paramount. It was a good way to get started."
Two Buffaloes tied for fifth in the individual standings, the 39th time that has happened in school history. And both also recorded all three rounds in the 60's, the 18th time that has occurred in Buff annals (21 times including three occasions for four rounds).
USC graduate transfer Jackson Rivera tied for 61st as he wrapped with an even-par 71 for 6-over 219 scorecard, as he rallied from an opening round 80, playing the last 35 holes at 3-under after the first 17 at 9-over. He finished with 11 birdies (six in the final round) and 31 pars against 10 bogeys, two doubles and a triple, playing the par-5's the best at 3-under. He did tame the par-3 holes, as after playing those 6-over in the first round, he played the 10 combined at 3-under the last two rounds (three birdies, seven pars).
Swanson recorded two top five finishes in this event including last year's fourth place effort. He had total command of his game on the 7,302-yard, par-71 Palouse Ridge Golf Club course layout, scoring 27 birdies and 76 pars with only five bogeys over the six rounds, scoring in the 60's every round with runs of 28 and 35 straight holes of par or better.
Sophomore Parker Paxton caught Swanson in the final round with a sparkling 76-under 65, his collegiate career best that enabled him to finish with a 10-under 203. He closed with an eagle, a team-high seven birdies and seven pars against three bogeys, with his 16 birdies overall the fourth-most in the 83-man field. He otherwise had 30 pars, six bogeys and a double while playing all three configurations under par for the first time in his career: 2-under on the par-3's and par-4's and 6-under under on the par-5's.
Junior Brandon Knight finished up with a 2-under 69, matching his first round score in tying for 21st with a 5-under 208 total. He had his second eagle in the event Wednesday, this time on the 552-yard, par-5 18th hole (after he scored a 2 on the par-4 No. 2 in the opening round). He otherwise had three birdies and 11 pars with three bogeys Wednesday, with 11 birdies and 32 pars to go with his two eagles, the latter tying for the most in the field. He played the par-4 holes the best by all the Buffaloes at 5-under.
Junior Ty Holbrook tied for 34th after closing with an even par 71, giving him a 1-under 212 overall score. He was fairly steady with six birdies and eight pars the third time around the Palouse Ridge track (he started on the 3rd hole), with three bogeys and an unfortunate triple bogey he had to endure on the 526-yard, par-4 17th. To his credit, he bounced right back with a birdie on No. 18, parred No. 1 and ended his ay with a birdie on No. 2. He recorded 14 birdies – the second-most by a Buff here – with 27 pars while playing the par-5's at 10-under –tying for the best in the entire field. In fact, he played the last nine par-5s all under par, with eight birdies and an eagle.
USC graduate transfer Jackson Rivera tied for 61st as he wrapped with an even-par 71 for 6-over 219 scorecard, as he rallied from an opening round 80, playing the last 35 holes at 3-under after the first 17 at 9-over. He finished with 11 birdies (six in the final round) and 31 pars against 10 bogeys, two doubles and a triple, playing the par-5's the best at 3-under. He did tame the par-3 holes, as after playing those 6-over in the first round, he played the 10 combined at 3-under the last two rounds (three birdies, seven pars).
Freshman Tyler Long played his first collegiate event as an individual, and despite dealing with a mild back injury, wound up tying for 42nd with a 1-over 214 total. He closed with his first subpar round (1-under 70), and managed 12 birdies and 32 pars opposite seven bogeys and three doubles. His 1-over performance tied for the 12th-best in relation to par by a Buffalo in his first collegiate tournament, with the 214 gross score tying for the seventh-lowest. Of the 23 players competing here as individuals, he tied for fifth among the group (Fresno State's James Watney led with a 6-under 207).
"Hunter and Parker had really nice events, and Tyler had a good first outing especially considering he was fighting a bad back," Edwards noted. "Jackson had a nice comeback after some first round struggles, and both Brandon and Ty had some really good moments as well."
Washington State's Dylan Burcham claimed medalist honors, firing a third straight 5-under 66 for a 15-under 198 total, edging Santa Clara's Calder Overfelt by a stroke.
The Buffaloes will return to action as a full team next Friday, competing once again in the 70th annual New Mexico William M. Tucker Intercollegiate in Albuquerque, Sept. 19-20. However, the two remaining team members who did not compete here, sophomore Michael Fang and freshman Casey Kosney, will play as individuals this Thursday and Friday in Colorado State's Ram Masters Invitational at Fort Collins Country Club.
BIWER MATCHES CU FINISH IN FIRST PRO EVENT: May graduate and school record-setter Justin Biwer finished third in his first professional event, the Asher Tour stop in its Pacific Golf Series, the Pauma Valley Championship. He recorded an 8-under 67-68-67—202 score on the par-70 Pauma Valley Country Club course to finish third (and collect $5,100). Former Buff Robby Keilch ('24) shot a 4-over 214 and tied for 20th, also cashing a check. Closer to home, Mike Glaesel ('90) on Wednesday tied for sixth in the CGA Senior Amateur (225, +9) at River Valley Ranch GC.
NOTES: The weather was much of the same for the final round as it was Tuesday, with no precipitation that had been originally predicted and temperatures in the mid-70's … Swanson added to his career totals, now with 32 rounds in the 60's and 41 subpar rounds, both now sixth all-time at CU … The average score for all 247 rounds was 71.26 … There were 36 players who finished under par and another 6 who ended up even in the 83-man field through two rounds … Four of the six toughest holes overall were par-3's (Nos. 13, 6, 4 and 11), along with Nos. 17 and 1 (par-4's); CU's scorers played those at 11-over in round one but at just 5-over the last two rounds) The scorers played the par-3's at 9over (rank in field not available), the par-4's at 2-under and the par-5's at 31-under … Colorado finished with the most eagles (4), the second-most birdies (64; WSU had 71), and wrapped with 159 pars against 40 bogeys and five doubles and two triples … In the two tournaments CU has played this year and last, the Buffs combined to finish 62-under par … Colorado opens the season with an 8-2-1 record against Division I competition (23-7-3 in rounds).
Host Washington State, with four players in the top nine, cruised to the win with a 45-under par team score of 807. The COugas held off Santa Clara, who finished six strokes back with an 813 score, while Colorado and the University of the Pacific tying for third with 28-under 824 tallies. Boise State rounded out the top five with an 829 total.
Colorado, ranked 26th in the preseason by Golfweek, recorded subpar team scores all three rounds, with the 28-under effort the eighth best 54-hole team score in relation to par in school history (fourth-best for a par-71 course). The 824 gross count became the fourth-lowest entry in the Buff record book.
"'We learned a lot about the team this week," head coach Roy Edwards said. "I believe it's going to be a special group who has a high desire to compete. As we move forward consistency and continuing to have a deeper understanding of our Golf IQ will be paramount. It was a good way to get started."
Two Buffaloes tied for fifth in the individual standings, the 39th time that has happened in school history. And both also recorded all three rounds in the 60's, the 18th time that has occurred in Buff annals (21 times including three occasions for four rounds).
USC graduate transfer Jackson Rivera tied for 61st as he wrapped with an even-par 71 for 6-over 219 scorecard, as he rallied from an opening round 80, playing the last 35 holes at 3-under after the first 17 at 9-over. He finished with 11 birdies (six in the final round) and 31 pars against 10 bogeys, two doubles and a triple, playing the par-5's the best at 3-under. He did tame the par-3 holes, as after playing those 6-over in the first round, he played the 10 combined at 3-under the last two rounds (three birdies, seven pars).
Swanson recorded two top five finishes in this event including last year's fourth place effort. He had total command of his game on the 7,302-yard, par-71 Palouse Ridge Golf Club course layout, scoring 27 birdies and 76 pars with only five bogeys over the six rounds, scoring in the 60's every round with runs of 28 and 35 straight holes of par or better.
Sophomore Parker Paxton caught Swanson in the final round with a sparkling 76-under 65, his collegiate career best that enabled him to finish with a 10-under 203. He closed with an eagle, a team-high seven birdies and seven pars against three bogeys, with his 16 birdies overall the fourth-most in the 83-man field. He otherwise had 30 pars, six bogeys and a double while playing all three configurations under par for the first time in his career: 2-under on the par-3's and par-4's and 6-under under on the par-5's.
Junior Brandon Knight finished up with a 2-under 69, matching his first round score in tying for 21st with a 5-under 208 total. He had his second eagle in the event Wednesday, this time on the 552-yard, par-5 18th hole (after he scored a 2 on the par-4 No. 2 in the opening round). He otherwise had three birdies and 11 pars with three bogeys Wednesday, with 11 birdies and 32 pars to go with his two eagles, the latter tying for the most in the field. He played the par-4 holes the best by all the Buffaloes at 5-under.
Junior Ty Holbrook tied for 34th after closing with an even par 71, giving him a 1-under 212 overall score. He was fairly steady with six birdies and eight pars the third time around the Palouse Ridge track (he started on the 3rd hole), with three bogeys and an unfortunate triple bogey he had to endure on the 526-yard, par-4 17th. To his credit, he bounced right back with a birdie on No. 18, parred No. 1 and ended his ay with a birdie on No. 2. He recorded 14 birdies – the second-most by a Buff here – with 27 pars while playing the par-5's at 10-under –tying for the best in the entire field. In fact, he played the last nine par-5s all under par, with eight birdies and an eagle.
USC graduate transfer Jackson Rivera tied for 61st as he wrapped with an even-par 71 for 6-over 219 scorecard, as he rallied from an opening round 80, playing the last 35 holes at 3-under after the first 17 at 9-over. He finished with 11 birdies (six in the final round) and 31 pars against 10 bogeys, two doubles and a triple, playing the par-5's the best at 3-under. He did tame the par-3 holes, as after playing those 6-over in the first round, he played the 10 combined at 3-under the last two rounds (three birdies, seven pars).
Freshman Tyler Long played his first collegiate event as an individual, and despite dealing with a mild back injury, wound up tying for 42nd with a 1-over 214 total. He closed with his first subpar round (1-under 70), and managed 12 birdies and 32 pars opposite seven bogeys and three doubles. His 1-over performance tied for the 12th-best in relation to par by a Buffalo in his first collegiate tournament, with the 214 gross score tying for the seventh-lowest. Of the 23 players competing here as individuals, he tied for fifth among the group (Fresno State's James Watney led with a 6-under 207).
"Hunter and Parker had really nice events, and Tyler had a good first outing especially considering he was fighting a bad back," Edwards noted. "Jackson had a nice comeback after some first round struggles, and both Brandon and Ty had some really good moments as well."
Washington State's Dylan Burcham claimed medalist honors, firing a third straight 5-under 66 for a 15-under 198 total, edging Santa Clara's Calder Overfelt by a stroke.
The Buffaloes will return to action as a full team next Friday, competing once again in the 70th annual New Mexico William M. Tucker Intercollegiate in Albuquerque, Sept. 19-20. However, the two remaining team members who did not compete here, sophomore Michael Fang and freshman Casey Kosney, will play as individuals this Thursday and Friday in Colorado State's Ram Masters Invitational at Fort Collins Country Club.
BIWER MATCHES CU FINISH IN FIRST PRO EVENT: May graduate and school record-setter Justin Biwer finished third in his first professional event, the Asher Tour stop in its Pacific Golf Series, the Pauma Valley Championship. He recorded an 8-under 67-68-67—202 score on the par-70 Pauma Valley Country Club course to finish third (and collect $5,100). Former Buff Robby Keilch ('24) shot a 4-over 214 and tied for 20th, also cashing a check. Closer to home, Mike Glaesel ('90) on Wednesday tied for sixth in the CGA Senior Amateur (225, +9) at River Valley Ranch GC.
NOTES: The weather was much of the same for the final round as it was Tuesday, with no precipitation that had been originally predicted and temperatures in the mid-70's … Swanson added to his career totals, now with 32 rounds in the 60's and 41 subpar rounds, both now sixth all-time at CU … The average score for all 247 rounds was 71.26 … There were 36 players who finished under par and another 6 who ended up even in the 83-man field through two rounds … Four of the six toughest holes overall were par-3's (Nos. 13, 6, 4 and 11), along with Nos. 17 and 1 (par-4's); CU's scorers played those at 11-over in round one but at just 5-over the last two rounds) The scorers played the par-3's at 9over (rank in field not available), the par-4's at 2-under and the par-5's at 31-under … Colorado finished with the most eagles (4), the second-most birdies (64; WSU had 71), and wrapped with 159 pars against 40 bogeys and five doubles and two triples … In the two tournaments CU has played this year and last, the Buffs combined to finish 62-under par … Colorado opens the season with an 8-2-1 record against Division I competition (23-7-3 in rounds).
BUFF INDIVIDUALS
| T5. | Parker Paxton | 69-69-65—203 |
| T5. | Hunter Swanson | 68-66-69—203 |
| T21. | Brandon Knight | 69-70-69—208 |
| T34. | Ty Holbrook | 74-67-71—212 |
| T42. | *Tyler Long | 73-71-70—214 |
| T61. | Jackson Rivera | 80-68-71—219 |
| INDIVIDUAL LEADERS |
| 1. | Dylan Burcham, Washington State | 66-66-66—198 |
| 2. | Calder Overfelt, Santa Clara | 65-66-68—199 |
| 3. | Ben Mulder, Washington State | 71-65-65—200 |
| 4. | Matt Robles, Santa Clara | 65-70-67—201 |
| T5. | Parker Paxton, Colorado | 69-69-65—203 |
| T5. | Hunter Swanson, Colorado | 68-66-69—203 |
| T5. | Josh McCartain, Idaho | 67-65-71—203 |
TEAM STANDINGS
| 1. | Washington State | 273-268-266—807 |
| 2. | Santa Clara | 268-278-267—813 |
| T3. | COLORADO | 280-270-274—824 |
| T3. | Pacific | 275-272-277—824 |
| 5. | Boise State | 282-273-274—829 |
| 6. | San Jose State | 271-279-280—830 |
| 7. | Oregon State | 280-280-277—837 |
| 8. | Idaho | 284-272-285—841 |
| 9. | Seattle | 288-278-278—844 |
| 10. | Eastern Washington | 280-283-286—849 |
| 11. | Fresno State | 286-278-291—855 |
| 12. | Southern Illinois | 288-289-290—867 |
Players Mentioned
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