Jeremy Paul is tied for fourth but the University of Colorado men’s golf team could never build momentum Saturday as the Buffaloes are in 10th place after the first two rounds of The Maxwell in Ardmore, Okla.
Texas, No. 1 in two rankings and No. 3 in a third, owns the lead through two rounds with a 13-under 547 score, good for a five-shot edge over No. 28 Baylor (552).
Colorado, ranked No. 60, posted a 13-over 293 in the opening round and a 14-over 294 on the second 18. The 27-over 587 placed the Buffs 10th in the 11-team field, which features seven top 40 teams and all but one in the top 60.
Paul, a junior, turned in a 68-69 performance on the 6,586-yard, par-70 Dornick Hills Golf & Country Club Course layout.
In recording his fourth and fifth consecutive rounds in the 60s, he set a school record, besting the four by teammate Philip Juel-Berg that he had last fall. In 14 rounds this spring, Paul has just one hole worse than bogey (out of 252) – a double bogey back in February as he has had none over the last eight-plus rounds (151 holes).
Junior Ethan Freeman is tied for 52nd after posting a 71-76—147. Senior Philip Juel-Berg opened with an 82, his fourth straight round with a high score, but came back with a 2-over 72 in the afternoon for a 14-over 154, tying him for 67th. Sophomore John Souza also is in at 14-over 154 after two rounds, as he fashioned a pair of 7-over 77s.
Freshman Ross Macdonald carded a 77-78—155 score which has him in 71st place.
Freshman Wilson Belk is competing here as an individual, and turned in CU’s second-best effort Saturday with a pair of 2-over 72s; his 144 total has him tied for 36th.
“Jeremy had another nice day, Ethan had a good first round,” CU head coach Roy Edwards said. “Everybody plays together here, which was a lot of fun (all teams play as a fivesome). “But for whatever reason, we weren’t very comfortable out there, never got into any kind of a groove and it really just added up to an off-day, especially score-wise.”
The final round was set for Sunday. This is CU’s final tune-up ahead of the Pac-12 Championships in Salt Lake City, which are set for April 29-May 1.
COLORADO INDIVIDUALS (*—playing as an individual)
T4. Jeremy Paul………………………….. 68-69—137
T36. *Wilson Belk…………………………. 72-72—144
T52. Ethan Freeman………………………. 71-76—147
T67. John Souza……………………………. 77-77—154
T67. Philip Juel-Berg……………………… 82-72—154
71. Ross Macdonald……………………. 77-78—155
TOP FIVE INDIVIDUALS
1. Gavin Hall, Texas…………………….. 66-68—134
T2. Lars van Meijel, Memphis………… 67-69—136
T2. Hunter Shattuck, Baylor…………… 68-68—136
T4. Jeremy Paul, Colorado…….. 68-69—137
T4. Stratton Nolen, Oklahoma State.. 66-71—137
T4. Max McGreevy, Oklahoma……….. 66-71—137
TEAM SCORES
1. Texas………………………………… 277-270—547
2. Baylor……………………………….. 276-276—552
3. Oklahoma State…………………. 277-277—554
3. New Mexico………………………. 278-276—554
5. Memphis…………………………… 278-279—557
6. Oklahoma………………………….. 280-283—563
7. Houston…………………………….. 288-286—574
8. Augusta…………………………….. 291-285—576
9. East Carolina……………………… 292-288—580
10. COLORADO………………… 293-294—587
11. Tulsa…………………………………. 303-288—591
