Colorado University Athletics
Swanson had a solid day in leading the Buffaloes into fifth place after day one in Arizona.
Photo by: CUBuffs.com
Golfers In Fifth In Arizona State's Thunderbird Collegiate
April 10, 2026 | Men's Golf
Swanson, Knight Pacing CU Attack
PHOENIX – The University of Colorado men's golf team never had too many hot streaks but at the same time avoided big numbers here Friday in ending the first day of the 53rd Arizona State Thunderbird College in fifth place.
No. 28 Long Beach State grabbed the 36-hole lead with a 27-under oar team score of 541, good for a t here stroke edge over No. 20 New Mexico (544). No. 9 and host Arizona State and No. 48 are tied for third with 550 totals, while the No. 44 Buffaloes round out the top five with a 7-under 557 count.
The Buffaloes did record two subpar team rounds to arrive at its score, a 4-under 280 in the morning round and a 3-under 281 in the afternoon. CU was tied for fifth with No. 31 UCLA after the first round and lead the Bruins by one heading into Saturday's final 18 holes. The Buffs were 2-over about two-thirds of the way through the first round before the scorers closed with seven birdies and just one bogey to finish on the "happy side of par."
"The guys really hung in and competed. That's just such an important hallmark of this crew and will be vital through the rest of the season," CU head coach Roy Edwards said. ''We saw some good moments from everyone and we can't stress enough how important it is for these guys to keep competing and they did a good job of that."
Senior Hunter Swanson led the Buffaloes Friday with a 3-under 68-71—139 scorecard, tying him for 16th in the standings. He was consistent from the get-go on the 7,555-yard, par-71 Papago Golf Course design, as he played all three hole configurations even or better (2-under on the par-4's 1-under on the par-5's and even on the par-3's – the latter impressive as the four par-3's were among the seven toughest Friday. That tied for 11th-best in the 60-man field). He was 1-over through seven, but then birdied Nos. 8 and 9 back-to-back – the one on the 8th just one of eight all day on the hole – and would remain in the red the rest of the day. He finished up with six birdies and 27 pars (eighth-most) with just three bogeys.
Junior Brandon Knight is tied for 19th ending 36 holes with a 2-under 69-71—140 performance. He opened with a birdie on the par-5 1st in both rounds, and was 3-under at one point through 10 holes but was in the red the entire day. He had five birdies and a team-high 28 pars (14 in each round) with just three bogeys, while playing the par-5's tied for eighth-best in the field at 4-under; he was 1-over on the par-3's and par-4's otherwise. He had one of only six birdies on the 525-yard, par-4 10th hole.
Knight's and Swanson's three bogeys tied for the 14th-fewest in the field; there were four bogey free rounds, two by Long Beach players and one each by Arizona State and UCLA duffers.
Junior Ty Holbrook is tied for 22nd after posting a 1-under 71-70—141 score to open here, his 21st and 22nd rounds of par or better for the season, besting his total of 20 he had his first two years as a Buff. He was 3-over through 11 holes, but settled down to finish with three birdies and four pars to get back down to par; his last birdie on the 243-yard, par-3 17th was one of just five in the first round and of 10 overall on the day. He was 2-under through 12 the second time around the Papago track, but back-to-back bogeys, his only two in the round, brought him back to par before he came right back with a birdie on the 610-yard, par-5 15th. He led CU with seven birdies and added 23 pars against six bogeys Friday, and his 1-under on the par-3's, even more impressive than Swanson's effort as it tied for fourth-best in the field.
Graduate transfer Jackson Rivera is tied for 29th after posting a 73-69—142 even-par effort Friday, recording CU's second best score in the second round. But it came after he bogeyed three of the first four holes before rebounding immediately with birdies on Nos. 5 and 6, and then finishing with three more birds and nine pars. He ended his run with a birdie on the 17th hole, one of just 10 on the hole all day (and of only five in the afternoon), matching Holbrook. He had five birdies and 22 pars against nine bogeys overall, and played the par-4's at 2-under, tied for 10th-best in the field.
Sophomore Parker Paxton struggled from the on-set, finishing the day in 57th after logging in a 7-over 72-77—149 score. He had all five bogeys in his first round in his first 11 holes, but to his credit, ended the round with three birdies. After opening round two with a birdie on the 549-yard, par-5 1st hole, he was never in the red again, double-bogeying the par-3 4th to land in the black and remained there the rest of the round. He had five birdies and 20 pars against 10 bogeys that double, with the par-3's causing most of his overage, playing those at 6-over.
Freshman Tyler Long is playing here as an individual (his scores don't count toward the CU team total), and he is tied for 44th after fashioning a 3-over par 69-76—145 scorecard. A solid morning round that bookended with birdies on Nos. 10 and 9, the second time around he opened bogey-bogey-double on Nos. 10-12 and was chasing par the remainder of the round. He did record back-to-back birdies on Nos. 15 and 16 to get down to 2-over at one point but could get no lower. He had six birdies and 21 pars opposite eight bogeys and the double, playing the par-5's the best at 2-under. He joined Knight in birdying the tough 10th hole, thus CU players had two of the six between the two rounds.
New Mexico's Johnnie Clark leads the individual race with an 9-under 133 total after rounds of 67 and 66, which has him in the lead by a stroke. Four Long Beach State players, including its non-designated scorer, make up four of the next five positions.
The third and final round is set for Saturday morning; Colorado will be paired with UCLA and will tee off in 12-minute intervals beginning at 8 a.m. mountain time. It will be CU's final round of golf ahead of the Big 12 Championships in Hutchinson, Kan., April 27-29.
NOTES: The temperature peaked at 90 degrees late in the day, with partly cloudy skies most of both rounds; the wind exceed five miles per hour on occasion … The average score for all 120 rounds was 70.86 (70.73 in the morning; 70.98 in the afternoon) … CU's sextet here averaged 71.33 for its 36 rounds (70.33 in the first round, 72.33 in the second) … Seven of the nine teams competing here are ranked in the latest top 50; CU is currently besting No. 31 UCLA and No. 32 Utah … There are 28 players under par through two rounds and seven who stand even … The seven toughest holes Friday, in order, were Nos. 4, 10, 8, 7, 17. 18 and 11; Colorado's scorers played them at 1-over in each round … The five scoring Buffs played the par-4's at 1-under (fifth behind San Diego's minus-11), the par-3's at 7-over (sixth, ASU played them even) and the par-5's at just 5-under (last; Long Beach was 22-under) … Colorado tied for seventh in birdies (30; New Mexico leads with 49), is second in pars (120, one behind ASU's 121), its 29 bogeys tied for the fourth … With two subpar team rounds, Colorado now has 24 in 31 overall this season, five behind the team record and one back of second … Swanson's six birdies Friday moved him into fourth place all-time at CU with 479, passing Yannik Paul's ('18) total of 475; the elder Paul twin, Jeremy ('17), has the third-most with 486 … Swanson also now has 24 of 31 rounds this season of par or better after two more Friday … Colorado (136) and Long Beach State (133) entered this event ranked 1-2 in the most wins over Division I opponents for the '25-26 season.
ALUMNI WATCH: Jeremy Paul ('17) was the only active alumni this past week (or this), he tied for 42nd in the LECOM Suncoast Classic with a 10-under par 68-70-70-66—274 scorecard.
(*---playing as an individual)
No. 28 Long Beach State grabbed the 36-hole lead with a 27-under oar team score of 541, good for a t here stroke edge over No. 20 New Mexico (544). No. 9 and host Arizona State and No. 48 are tied for third with 550 totals, while the No. 44 Buffaloes round out the top five with a 7-under 557 count.
The Buffaloes did record two subpar team rounds to arrive at its score, a 4-under 280 in the morning round and a 3-under 281 in the afternoon. CU was tied for fifth with No. 31 UCLA after the first round and lead the Bruins by one heading into Saturday's final 18 holes. The Buffs were 2-over about two-thirds of the way through the first round before the scorers closed with seven birdies and just one bogey to finish on the "happy side of par."
"The guys really hung in and competed. That's just such an important hallmark of this crew and will be vital through the rest of the season," CU head coach Roy Edwards said. ''We saw some good moments from everyone and we can't stress enough how important it is for these guys to keep competing and they did a good job of that."
Senior Hunter Swanson led the Buffaloes Friday with a 3-under 68-71—139 scorecard, tying him for 16th in the standings. He was consistent from the get-go on the 7,555-yard, par-71 Papago Golf Course design, as he played all three hole configurations even or better (2-under on the par-4's 1-under on the par-5's and even on the par-3's – the latter impressive as the four par-3's were among the seven toughest Friday. That tied for 11th-best in the 60-man field). He was 1-over through seven, but then birdied Nos. 8 and 9 back-to-back – the one on the 8th just one of eight all day on the hole – and would remain in the red the rest of the day. He finished up with six birdies and 27 pars (eighth-most) with just three bogeys.
Junior Brandon Knight is tied for 19th ending 36 holes with a 2-under 69-71—140 performance. He opened with a birdie on the par-5 1st in both rounds, and was 3-under at one point through 10 holes but was in the red the entire day. He had five birdies and a team-high 28 pars (14 in each round) with just three bogeys, while playing the par-5's tied for eighth-best in the field at 4-under; he was 1-over on the par-3's and par-4's otherwise. He had one of only six birdies on the 525-yard, par-4 10th hole.
Knight's and Swanson's three bogeys tied for the 14th-fewest in the field; there were four bogey free rounds, two by Long Beach players and one each by Arizona State and UCLA duffers.
Junior Ty Holbrook is tied for 22nd after posting a 1-under 71-70—141 score to open here, his 21st and 22nd rounds of par or better for the season, besting his total of 20 he had his first two years as a Buff. He was 3-over through 11 holes, but settled down to finish with three birdies and four pars to get back down to par; his last birdie on the 243-yard, par-3 17th was one of just five in the first round and of 10 overall on the day. He was 2-under through 12 the second time around the Papago track, but back-to-back bogeys, his only two in the round, brought him back to par before he came right back with a birdie on the 610-yard, par-5 15th. He led CU with seven birdies and added 23 pars against six bogeys Friday, and his 1-under on the par-3's, even more impressive than Swanson's effort as it tied for fourth-best in the field.
Graduate transfer Jackson Rivera is tied for 29th after posting a 73-69—142 even-par effort Friday, recording CU's second best score in the second round. But it came after he bogeyed three of the first four holes before rebounding immediately with birdies on Nos. 5 and 6, and then finishing with three more birds and nine pars. He ended his run with a birdie on the 17th hole, one of just 10 on the hole all day (and of only five in the afternoon), matching Holbrook. He had five birdies and 22 pars against nine bogeys overall, and played the par-4's at 2-under, tied for 10th-best in the field.
Sophomore Parker Paxton struggled from the on-set, finishing the day in 57th after logging in a 7-over 72-77—149 score. He had all five bogeys in his first round in his first 11 holes, but to his credit, ended the round with three birdies. After opening round two with a birdie on the 549-yard, par-5 1st hole, he was never in the red again, double-bogeying the par-3 4th to land in the black and remained there the rest of the round. He had five birdies and 20 pars against 10 bogeys that double, with the par-3's causing most of his overage, playing those at 6-over.
Freshman Tyler Long is playing here as an individual (his scores don't count toward the CU team total), and he is tied for 44th after fashioning a 3-over par 69-76—145 scorecard. A solid morning round that bookended with birdies on Nos. 10 and 9, the second time around he opened bogey-bogey-double on Nos. 10-12 and was chasing par the remainder of the round. He did record back-to-back birdies on Nos. 15 and 16 to get down to 2-over at one point but could get no lower. He had six birdies and 21 pars opposite eight bogeys and the double, playing the par-5's the best at 2-under. He joined Knight in birdying the tough 10th hole, thus CU players had two of the six between the two rounds.
New Mexico's Johnnie Clark leads the individual race with an 9-under 133 total after rounds of 67 and 66, which has him in the lead by a stroke. Four Long Beach State players, including its non-designated scorer, make up four of the next five positions.
The third and final round is set for Saturday morning; Colorado will be paired with UCLA and will tee off in 12-minute intervals beginning at 8 a.m. mountain time. It will be CU's final round of golf ahead of the Big 12 Championships in Hutchinson, Kan., April 27-29.
NOTES: The temperature peaked at 90 degrees late in the day, with partly cloudy skies most of both rounds; the wind exceed five miles per hour on occasion … The average score for all 120 rounds was 70.86 (70.73 in the morning; 70.98 in the afternoon) … CU's sextet here averaged 71.33 for its 36 rounds (70.33 in the first round, 72.33 in the second) … Seven of the nine teams competing here are ranked in the latest top 50; CU is currently besting No. 31 UCLA and No. 32 Utah … There are 28 players under par through two rounds and seven who stand even … The seven toughest holes Friday, in order, were Nos. 4, 10, 8, 7, 17. 18 and 11; Colorado's scorers played them at 1-over in each round … The five scoring Buffs played the par-4's at 1-under (fifth behind San Diego's minus-11), the par-3's at 7-over (sixth, ASU played them even) and the par-5's at just 5-under (last; Long Beach was 22-under) … Colorado tied for seventh in birdies (30; New Mexico leads with 49), is second in pars (120, one behind ASU's 121), its 29 bogeys tied for the fourth … With two subpar team rounds, Colorado now has 24 in 31 overall this season, five behind the team record and one back of second … Swanson's six birdies Friday moved him into fourth place all-time at CU with 479, passing Yannik Paul's ('18) total of 475; the elder Paul twin, Jeremy ('17), has the third-most with 486 … Swanson also now has 24 of 31 rounds this season of par or better after two more Friday … Colorado (136) and Long Beach State (133) entered this event ranked 1-2 in the most wins over Division I opponents for the '25-26 season.
ALUMNI WATCH: Jeremy Paul ('17) was the only active alumni this past week (or this), he tied for 42nd in the LECOM Suncoast Classic with a 10-under par 68-70-70-66—274 scorecard.
| BUFFALO INDIVIDUALS |
| T16. | Hunter Swanson | 68-71—139 |
| T19. | Brandon Knight | 69-71—140 |
| T22. | Ty Holbrook | 71-70—141 |
| T29. | Jackson Rivera | 73-69—142 |
| T44. | *Tyler Long | 69-76—145 |
| 57. | Parker Paxton | 72-77—149 |
| INDIVIDUAL LEADERS |
| 1. | Johnnie Clark, New Mexico | 67-66—133 |
| 2. | Alejandro De Castro, Long Beach St. | 70-64—134 |
| T3. | Krishnav Chopraa, Long Beach St. | 68-67—135 |
| T3. | Ian Maspat, San Diego | 65-70—135 |
| T3. | Steen Zeman, Long Beach State | 67-68—135 |
| TEAM STANDINGS |
| 1. | Long Beach State | 272-269—541 |
| 2. | New Mexico | 270-274—544 |
| T3. | San Diego | 273-277—550 |
| T3. | Arizona State | 268-282—550 |
| 5. | COLORADO | 280-281--561 |
| 6. | UCLA | 280-282—562 |
| 7. | Oregon State | 282-282—564 |
| 8. | Grand Canyon | 285-283--568 |
| 9. | Utah | 291-279—570 |
Players Mentioned
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