Colorado University Athletics
Buffs Close Strong 2025-26 Season With NCAA Regional Push
June 23, 2026 | Men's Golf
BOULDER — The Colorado Buffaloes men's golf team put together a strong season in 2025-26, highlighted by a tournament victory, an NCAA Regional appearance, 10 top five individual finishes and a late postseason charge that left the Buffaloes just short of advancing to the NCAA Championship.
Colorado finished the season with a 146-66-4 record against Division I opponents, good for a .685 winning percentage, the sixth best mark in program history since records began being tracked in 1979. The Buffaloes also posted a 71.57 team stroke average over 243 rounds, the second-best mark in school history behind last season's record 71.50 average. CU finished the year with 28 subpar team rounds and 28 rounds of par or better.
The Buffs' season was built on consistency and depth. Colorado recorded one tournament win, four top three team finishes and several strong results against nationally ranked fields. CU tied for third at the WSU Palouse Collegiate, tied for third at the New Mexico Tucker Invitational, finished second at the its own Mark Simpson Invitational, placed second at the Visit Stockton Pacific Invitational and finished fifth at the Ka'anapali Classic by OUTRIGGER during the fall.
The spring was highlighted by Colorado's team title at the Wyoming Desert Intercollegiate, where the Buffs shot 34-under par to win the 23-team field by 12 strokes. Brandon Knight and Jackson Rivera tied for second individually at 9-under 207, while Ty Holbrook tied for ninth at 7-under 209, giving CU three players in the top 10.
Colorado continued to be tested against quality fields throughout the spring. The Buffs finished seventh at San Diego's R.E. Lamkin Invitational, with Rivera leading the way at 3-under 213 to tie for 12th. CU then tied for eighth at Stanford's The Goodwin, a 30-team field that included 14 top 50 teams and 23 teams ranked inside the top 100. Rivera again led the Buffs, tying for 19th at 2-under 208.
At the Arizona State Thunderbird Collegiate, Knight turned in one of the top individual performances of the spring, closing with a 5-under 66 to finish seventh at 7-under 206. Colorado placed sixth as a team at 8-under 844, finishing ahead of Utah and Grand Canyon in the nine-team field.
The Big 12 Championship proved to be Colorado's toughest week of the season. The Buffs finished 16th at Prairie Dunes Country Club, closing the four-round event at 49-over par. Holbrook led Colorado at 7-over 287, finishing 32nd, while Hunter Swanson placed 37th at 8-over 288 in his fourth conference championship appearance. Head coach Roy Edwards called the performance "incredibly disappointing," but also pointed to it as a learning opportunity for the program.
Colorado still earned a spot in the postseason and responded with one of its best stretches of golf of the year at the NCAA Bryan Regional. After the schedule was adjusted because of weather, the Buffs played 36 holes on the final day and surged into contention. CU shot 3-under 285 in the second round and 7-under 281 in the final round, at one point climbing into a tie for the fifth and final NCAA Championship qualifying position. The Buffs finished seventh at 11-under 853, seven strokes outside the top five.
Knight led Colorado at the regional, tying for 14th at 6-under 210 after rounds of 71, 70 and 69. Holbrook tied for 17th at 4-under 212, while Swanson closed his CU career with a 3-under 69 in the final round to finish tied for 26th at 2-under 214. Edwards praised the team's fight afterward, saying the Buffs "really battled and competed" and that the group represented Colorado with "amazing class and competitiveness and toughness."
Swanson led the Buffs for the season with a 70.54 stroke average, the fifth best single season mark in program history. He finished the year with 15 rounds in the 60s, 18 subpar rounds, nine even par rounds and seven top 20 finishes. Knight followed with a 70.94 average, 14 rounds in the 60s, a team-best 20 subpar rounds and four top 10 finishes. Holbrook posted a 71.13 average with four top 10 finishes, while Paxton added three top five finishes and 12 rounds in the 60s.
Swanson also closed one of the top careers in Colorado golf history. He finished his career with a 71.67 stroke average, third best in CU history, while ranking first in career pars with 1,706, third in birdies with 502 and eighth in eagles with 14. He also finished second in rounds played with 153, tied for second in tournaments played with 50, third in rounds in the 60s with 44 and fifth in subpar rounds with 56.
Colorado's depth showed throughout the year. CU had 71 rounds in the 60s, 106 subpar rounds and 33 even par rounds. The Buffs produced 16 top 10 individual finishes and 30 top 20 finishes, led by Swanson with seven top 20s, Holbrook with six, Paxton and Knight with five each and Rivera with four. Michael Fang also added an individual victory at the Colorado Mines Bob Writz Invitational.
The Buffs will lose Swanson and Fang, but return a strong core with Holbrook, Knight, Paxton and Tyler Long, along with a group that gained meaningful postseason experience. After another NCAA Regional appearance and one of the best statistical seasons in program history, Colorado enters the offseason with a foundation to build on and the expectation of taking another step forward.
Swanson will return as an assistant coach for the Buffaloes.
As Edwards said after the NCAA Regional, it was a "great season overall," and the Buffs took "some major steps forward" while positioning the program to continue building next season.
2025-26 Season Lineup
Colorado used a core lineup built around Swanson, Holbrook, Knight, Paxton and Rivera, with Long appearing as the sixth player or individual option throughout the season. Fang and Casey Kosney also competed as individuals in select events.
Colorado finished the season with a 146-66-4 record against Division I opponents, good for a .685 winning percentage, the sixth best mark in program history since records began being tracked in 1979. The Buffaloes also posted a 71.57 team stroke average over 243 rounds, the second-best mark in school history behind last season's record 71.50 average. CU finished the year with 28 subpar team rounds and 28 rounds of par or better.
The Buffs' season was built on consistency and depth. Colorado recorded one tournament win, four top three team finishes and several strong results against nationally ranked fields. CU tied for third at the WSU Palouse Collegiate, tied for third at the New Mexico Tucker Invitational, finished second at the its own Mark Simpson Invitational, placed second at the Visit Stockton Pacific Invitational and finished fifth at the Ka'anapali Classic by OUTRIGGER during the fall.
The spring was highlighted by Colorado's team title at the Wyoming Desert Intercollegiate, where the Buffs shot 34-under par to win the 23-team field by 12 strokes. Brandon Knight and Jackson Rivera tied for second individually at 9-under 207, while Ty Holbrook tied for ninth at 7-under 209, giving CU three players in the top 10.
Colorado continued to be tested against quality fields throughout the spring. The Buffs finished seventh at San Diego's R.E. Lamkin Invitational, with Rivera leading the way at 3-under 213 to tie for 12th. CU then tied for eighth at Stanford's The Goodwin, a 30-team field that included 14 top 50 teams and 23 teams ranked inside the top 100. Rivera again led the Buffs, tying for 19th at 2-under 208.
At the Arizona State Thunderbird Collegiate, Knight turned in one of the top individual performances of the spring, closing with a 5-under 66 to finish seventh at 7-under 206. Colorado placed sixth as a team at 8-under 844, finishing ahead of Utah and Grand Canyon in the nine-team field.
The Big 12 Championship proved to be Colorado's toughest week of the season. The Buffs finished 16th at Prairie Dunes Country Club, closing the four-round event at 49-over par. Holbrook led Colorado at 7-over 287, finishing 32nd, while Hunter Swanson placed 37th at 8-over 288 in his fourth conference championship appearance. Head coach Roy Edwards called the performance "incredibly disappointing," but also pointed to it as a learning opportunity for the program.
Colorado still earned a spot in the postseason and responded with one of its best stretches of golf of the year at the NCAA Bryan Regional. After the schedule was adjusted because of weather, the Buffs played 36 holes on the final day and surged into contention. CU shot 3-under 285 in the second round and 7-under 281 in the final round, at one point climbing into a tie for the fifth and final NCAA Championship qualifying position. The Buffs finished seventh at 11-under 853, seven strokes outside the top five.
Knight led Colorado at the regional, tying for 14th at 6-under 210 after rounds of 71, 70 and 69. Holbrook tied for 17th at 4-under 212, while Swanson closed his CU career with a 3-under 69 in the final round to finish tied for 26th at 2-under 214. Edwards praised the team's fight afterward, saying the Buffs "really battled and competed" and that the group represented Colorado with "amazing class and competitiveness and toughness."
Swanson led the Buffs for the season with a 70.54 stroke average, the fifth best single season mark in program history. He finished the year with 15 rounds in the 60s, 18 subpar rounds, nine even par rounds and seven top 20 finishes. Knight followed with a 70.94 average, 14 rounds in the 60s, a team-best 20 subpar rounds and four top 10 finishes. Holbrook posted a 71.13 average with four top 10 finishes, while Paxton added three top five finishes and 12 rounds in the 60s.
Swanson also closed one of the top careers in Colorado golf history. He finished his career with a 71.67 stroke average, third best in CU history, while ranking first in career pars with 1,706, third in birdies with 502 and eighth in eagles with 14. He also finished second in rounds played with 153, tied for second in tournaments played with 50, third in rounds in the 60s with 44 and fifth in subpar rounds with 56.
Colorado's depth showed throughout the year. CU had 71 rounds in the 60s, 106 subpar rounds and 33 even par rounds. The Buffs produced 16 top 10 individual finishes and 30 top 20 finishes, led by Swanson with seven top 20s, Holbrook with six, Paxton and Knight with five each and Rivera with four. Michael Fang also added an individual victory at the Colorado Mines Bob Writz Invitational.
The Buffs will lose Swanson and Fang, but return a strong core with Holbrook, Knight, Paxton and Tyler Long, along with a group that gained meaningful postseason experience. After another NCAA Regional appearance and one of the best statistical seasons in program history, Colorado enters the offseason with a foundation to build on and the expectation of taking another step forward.
Swanson will return as an assistant coach for the Buffaloes.
As Edwards said after the NCAA Regional, it was a "great season overall," and the Buffs took "some major steps forward" while positioning the program to continue building next season.
2025-26 Season Lineup
Colorado used a core lineup built around Swanson, Holbrook, Knight, Paxton and Rivera, with Long appearing as the sixth player or individual option throughout the season. Fang and Casey Kosney also competed as individuals in select events.
| Tournament | CU Lineup | Team Finish | Tournament Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|
| WSU Palouse Collegiate | Paxton, Holbrook, Swanson, Rivera, Knight | T3rd of 12 | Paxton and Swanson both tied for fifth at 10 under 203. |
| New Mexico Tucker Invitational | Paxton, Swanson, Knight, Holbrook, Rivera | T3rd of 18 | Holbrook led CU, tying for seventh at 6 under 210. |
| CU Mark Simpson Invitational | Paxton, Swanson, Holbrook, Knight, Long | 2nd of 19 | CU opened with a season best 20 under 268. Paxton tied for third at 13 under 203. |
| Visit Stockton Pacific Invitational | Paxton, Holbrook, Swanson, Knight, Long | 2nd of 17 | Knight and Paxton tied for fifth at 7 under 209, while Long tied for ninth. |
| Ka'anapali Classic by OUTRIGGER | Paxton, Swanson, Knight, Holbrook, Rivera | 5th of 19 | CU shot 37 under as a team. Swanson and Holbrook tied for 14th at 10 under 203. |
| The Prestige at PGA West | Paxton, Swanson, Knight, Holbrook, Rivera | 16th of 24 | Swanson tied for eighth at 1 under 141. |
| Wyoming Desert Intercollegiate | Paxton, Swanson, Knight, Holbrook, Rivera | 1st of 23 | CU won the tournament at 34 under 830. Knight and Rivera tied for second. |
| San Diego R.E. Lamkin Invitational | Paxton, Swanson, Knight, Holbrook, Rivera | 7th of 16 | Rivera led CU, tying for 12th at 3 under 213. |
| Arizona Thunderbirds Intercollegiate | Paxton, Swanson, Knight, Holbrook, Rivera | T3rd of 14 | Holbrook tied for third at 7 under 209. Swanson tied for eighth. |
| Stanford's The Goodwin | Swanson, Paxton, Knight, Holbrook, Rivera | T8th of 30 | Rivera tied for 19th at 2 under 208 in a deep national field. |
| ASU Thunderbird Collegiate | Holbrook, Swanson, Paxton, Rivera, Knight | 6th of 9 | Knight finished seventh at 7 under 206 after closing with a 66. |
| Big 12 Championship | Swanson, Paxton, Knight, Holbrook, Rivera | 16th of 16 | Holbrook led CU, tying for 32nd at 7 over 287. |
| NCAA Southwest/Bryan Regional | Swanson, Holbrook, Knight, Paxton, Rivera | 7th of 14 | CU rallied late with a final round 7 under 281. Knight tied for 14th at 6 under 210. |
Tournament Highlights
Best Team Finish
Colorado won the Wyoming Desert Intercollegiate, shooting 276, 271 and 283 for an 830 total, finishing 34 under par and winning the 23 team field by 12 strokes. Knight and Rivera tied for second individually at 9 under 207, and Holbrook tied for ninth at 7 under 209.
Best Fall Stretch
The Buffs opened the season with strong consistency, finishing tied for third at the WSU Palouse Collegiate, tied for third at the New Mexico Tucker Invitational, second at the CU Mark Simpson Invitational, second at the Visit Stockton Pacific Invitational and fifth at the Ka'anapali Classic.
Best Team Round
Colorado's low team round came at the CU Mark Simpson Invitational, where the Buffs shot 20 under 268 in the first round.
Best Individual Rounds
Parker Paxton and Hunter Swanson both carded 7 under 64s at the Ka'anapali Classic by OUTRIGGER, the lowest individual rounds of the season for Colorado.
Best Postseason Push
At the NCAA Southwest/Bryan Regional, Colorado finished seventh at 11 under 853, closing with its best round of the tournament, a 7 under 281, to make a late run at the final NCAA Championship qualifying spot. Knight led CU at 6 under 210, tying for 14th.
By The Numbers
| Category | Number |
|---|---|
| Overall Division I record | 146-66-4 |
| Winning percentage | .685 |
| Team stroke average | 71.57 |
| Tournament wins | 1 |
| Top three team finishes | 5 |
| Top five team finishes | 6 |
| Subpar team rounds | 28 |
| Rounds in the 60s | 71 |
| Subpar individual rounds | 106 |
| Even par individual rounds | 33 |
| Top five individual finishes | 10 |
| Top 10 individual finishes | 16 |
| Top 20 individual finishes | 30 |
| Best team round | 268, 20 under |
| Best team tournament score | 815, 37 under at Ka'anapali |
| Best individual round | 64, Paxton and Swanson |
| Lowest season stroke average | Swanson, 70.54 |
| Most subpar rounds | Knight, 20 |
| Most rounds in the 60s | Swanson, 15 |
| Most top 20 finishes | Swanson, 7 |
| Individual wins | Fang, 1 |
Players Mentioned
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