Colorado University Athletics
Monday, May 18
Bryan, Texas
All Day
Colorado
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First Round
Buffs Seventh After Opening Round at NCAA Bryan Regional
May 18, 2026 | Men's Golf
BRYAN, Texas — The Colorado men's golf team opened the 2026 NCAA Bryan Regional in strong position Monday, finishing the first round in seventh place at Traditions Club.
The Buffaloes posted a 1-under-par team score of 287 and sit five strokes back of fifth place Tennessee for the final advancing position. The top five teams from the regional advance to the NCAA Championship.
In NCAA Regional competition, teams compete in a five count four format, meaning five golfers compete each round with the top four scores counting toward the team total.
"Guys did a good job of hanging in the round despite not having our best stuff early on," Colorado head coach Roy Edwards said. "We are definitely right there in the mix. We just need to worry about ourselves and our jobs and we will be good."
Brandon Knight and Ty Holbrook led Colorado with matching 1-under-par rounds of 71 and are tied for 20th individually. Knight paced the Buffs with five birdies, while Holbrook added three. Knight birdied three of the first eight holes before suffering a triple-bogey on the par 4 ninth hole. He responded immediately with a birdie on the 10th and after a bogey on the 11th, responded again with a birdie on the 13th en route to his 71, his 18th subpar round of the season.
Parker Paxton shot an even-par 72 and is tied for 24th, showing signs of returning to the steady form he displayed during the fall portion of the season, when he averaged 68.80 over 15 rounds. The sophomore entered NCAA Regional play with 17 subpar rounds, 12 rounds in the 60s and three top five finishes this season. Jackson Rivera rounded out the CU lineup with an 83.
Senior Hunter Swanson added four birdies and carded a 1-over 73 to finish tied for 38th.
"Brandon made a lot of birdies but had one hiccup on No. 9," Edwards said. "He did a great job responding to that. Ty was very consistent and steady."
CU recorded 16 birdies as a team and played steady golf throughout the back nine to remain within striking distance heading into Tuesday's second round.
"Just kept our composure and stuck to our individual jobs," Edwards said.
The Buffaloes entered NCAA Regional play after posting four top three finishes during the 2025-26 season, including a team title at the Wyoming Desert Intercollegiate in February.
Host Texas A&M leads the regional at 12-under par, followed by North Carolina at 10-under, TCU at 8-under, Texas at 7-under and Tennessee at 6-under. Chattanooga sits sixth at 2-under, one shot ahead of Colorado. UNLV is eighth at 1-over.
Colorado will also make a lineup adjustment for Tuesday's rounds, with Tyler Long entering the lineup in place of Rivera.
The NCAA announced a schedule adjustment Monday evening due to forecasted weather expected in the Bryan area Tuesday night into Wednesday. Teams will now play 36 holes Tuesday in an effort to complete the regional before weather impacts the remainder of the tournament.
Play will begin at 7 a.m. CT off the first tee and 7:30 a.m. CT off the 10th tee. Parker Paxton will lead the Buffs off at 8:25 a.m. CT. If all 36 holes and any necessary playoffs are not completed Tuesday, the remaining holes will resume Wednesday when conditions allow.
The Buffaloes posted a 1-under-par team score of 287 and sit five strokes back of fifth place Tennessee for the final advancing position. The top five teams from the regional advance to the NCAA Championship.
In NCAA Regional competition, teams compete in a five count four format, meaning five golfers compete each round with the top four scores counting toward the team total.
"Guys did a good job of hanging in the round despite not having our best stuff early on," Colorado head coach Roy Edwards said. "We are definitely right there in the mix. We just need to worry about ourselves and our jobs and we will be good."
Brandon Knight and Ty Holbrook led Colorado with matching 1-under-par rounds of 71 and are tied for 20th individually. Knight paced the Buffs with five birdies, while Holbrook added three. Knight birdied three of the first eight holes before suffering a triple-bogey on the par 4 ninth hole. He responded immediately with a birdie on the 10th and after a bogey on the 11th, responded again with a birdie on the 13th en route to his 71, his 18th subpar round of the season.
Parker Paxton shot an even-par 72 and is tied for 24th, showing signs of returning to the steady form he displayed during the fall portion of the season, when he averaged 68.80 over 15 rounds. The sophomore entered NCAA Regional play with 17 subpar rounds, 12 rounds in the 60s and three top five finishes this season. Jackson Rivera rounded out the CU lineup with an 83.
Senior Hunter Swanson added four birdies and carded a 1-over 73 to finish tied for 38th.
"Brandon made a lot of birdies but had one hiccup on No. 9," Edwards said. "He did a great job responding to that. Ty was very consistent and steady."
CU recorded 16 birdies as a team and played steady golf throughout the back nine to remain within striking distance heading into Tuesday's second round.
"Just kept our composure and stuck to our individual jobs," Edwards said.
The Buffaloes entered NCAA Regional play after posting four top three finishes during the 2025-26 season, including a team title at the Wyoming Desert Intercollegiate in February.
Host Texas A&M leads the regional at 12-under par, followed by North Carolina at 10-under, TCU at 8-under, Texas at 7-under and Tennessee at 6-under. Chattanooga sits sixth at 2-under, one shot ahead of Colorado. UNLV is eighth at 1-over.
Colorado will also make a lineup adjustment for Tuesday's rounds, with Tyler Long entering the lineup in place of Rivera.
The NCAA announced a schedule adjustment Monday evening due to forecasted weather expected in the Bryan area Tuesday night into Wednesday. Teams will now play 36 holes Tuesday in an effort to complete the regional before weather impacts the remainder of the tournament.
Play will begin at 7 a.m. CT off the first tee and 7:30 a.m. CT off the 10th tee. Parker Paxton will lead the Buffs off at 8:25 a.m. CT. If all 36 holes and any necessary playoffs are not completed Tuesday, the remaining holes will resume Wednesday when conditions allow.
| BUFFALO INDIVIDUALS | ||
| Rank | Name | Score (To Par) |
| T20. | Ty Holbrook | 71—71 (-1) |
| T20. | Brandon Knight | 71—71 (-1) |
| T24. | Parker Paxton | 72—72 (E) |
| T36. | Hunter Swanson | 73—73 (+1) |
| T76. | Jackson Rivera | 83—83 (+11) |
TEAM SCORES |
||
| Rank | Team | Score (To Par) |
| 1. | #27 Texas A&M | 276—276 (-12) |
| 2. | #29 North Carolina | 278—278 (-10) |
| 3. | #34 TCU | 280—280 (-8) |
| 4. | #4 Texas | 281—281 (-7) |
| 5. | #16 Tennessee | 282—282 (-6) |
| 6. | Chattanooga | 286—286 (-2) |
| 7. | #54 Colorado | 287—287(-1)_ |
| 9. | #45 UNLV | 289—289 (+1) |
| 9. | #40 UNCW | 293—293 (+5) |
| T10. | Cincinnati | 295—295 (+7) |
| T10. | UTRGV | 295—295 (+7) |
| 12. | Miami (OH) | 298—298 (+10) |
| 13. | New Mexico | 301—301 (+13) |
| 14. | Arkansas-Pine Bluff | 318—318 (+30) |
Players Mentioned
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