Yannik Paul finished 21st in the 2015 regional in Noblesville, Ind.
Golfers Set For NCAA Regional With One Goal In Mind
May 13, 2017 | Men's Golf
Colorado Looking to Return To National Finals For First Time Since 2002
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The University of Colorado men's golf team arrived here Saturday ahead of the NCAA Championship Regional with one singular goal in mind: advance to the NCAA Finals for the first time since 2002.
The Central/Purdue Regional begins Monday, with coach Roy Edwards' team getting in some practice when it arrived here ahead of a practice round on the Kampen Course at the Birck/Boilermaker Golf Complex, a 7,411-yard, par-72 links-style layout that has been rated one of the top collegiate courses in the nation and one of the most difficult golf courses in Indiana.
Colorado, ranked No. 32 in the nation (GolfStat; No. 26 Golfweek) is the No. 6 seed in the field, its highest since the regionals went to six sites in 2009, when the Buffaloes were a No. 7 seed. This is the fifth straight year the Buffaloes have qualified for the NCAA postseason, and the 21st time in the 29-year history of regional play.
With final exams complete and the team celebrating three graduates last Friday, the Buffaloes can now focus on finishing in the top five of 13 teams competing here, which would earn CU its first trip to the NCAA Finals in some 15 years. Colorado has come close several times, including a sixth place finish in this very state two years ago after the Buffs owned the first round lead.
"We were really, really loose during finals as we wanted the guys to concentrate on academics, Edwards said. "Their schedules were so different, that we left it up to them when to fit in some practice or go to the range. A couple of the guys played in the U.S. Open Qualifying and got a competitive round in. It's really not a group of guys who we have to ask to practice."
Colorado will be represented by senior Ethan Freeman, one of Friday's graduates, juniors Spencer Painton, Yannik Paul and John Souza and freshman Victor Bjorlow. All competed in the Pac-12's and were separated by a total of five strokes over 54 holes.
Freeman is second on the team in stroke average with a 72.00 figure, followed by Paul (72.21), Souza (73.32), Painton (73.84) and Bjorlow (74.41). The stroke average leader, Jeremy Paul (71.75) turned professional last month and thus can no longer compete.
"We've got a lot of experience," Edwards said, confident of the makeup of this year's regional team. "Even though Victor has just come into the lineup, he has a lot of experience playing golf around the world. It's a group of guys who really enjoy each other and playing together, and any of these players can play well at any time.
"Kampen is a tremendous test of golf; you have to manage your mistakes," he continued. "There will be times when you're going to hit into a lot of tough spots, and when that happens, you need to keep it to a bogey when chances are a big number can happen. My guess is that almost every hole you make par will gain you shots on the field; most holes are going to play over par. You need to be smart but not defensive, have confidence and believe in yourself."
The Buffaloes won't have a minor disadvantage they have faced in three of their last four regional appearances; CU has been sent to the south where Bermuda grasses are the norm, the kind the Buffs don't see very often. Edwards likes the makeup of the 13-team field.
"It's always interesting with six regionals what the field make up is," he noted. "This is a really good mix of teams from all over the country, which is what I feel every regional should look like. Last year, we were in the southeast with five SEC teams and four others from the region. As I've said, this is a great golf course – difficult – but I think the guys are going to love it. That's as big a deal as anything, getting to learn the golf course in a very short period of time."
Asked if his team was out for some immediate redemption following a seventh-place finish in the Pac-12 Championships, which the school hosted, Edwards had this to say:
"Absolutely. Spencer played well, John and Victor had some good moments. But if anything, Ethan and Yannik are the most excited to go to the regional and play well, as those guys are key for us. Both were disappointed in their Pac-12 performances, which was a bit below their normal stellar play.
"Every team has highs and lows during the season, and I do feel like we're coming out of a low," Edwards continued. "I've seen a lot of good things going on, and we need to put it together for regionals. There's no doubt this team is capable of advancing to the finals and we're looking forward to the opportunity to do so."
In the first round, the Buffaloes will be paired with Auburn and South Carolina and will start on the No. 10 tee at 6:20 a.m. MDT. The weather forecast at this point appears perfect: low 70s for temperatures and sunny skies with negligible winds.
The Central/Purdue Regional begins Monday, with coach Roy Edwards' team getting in some practice when it arrived here ahead of a practice round on the Kampen Course at the Birck/Boilermaker Golf Complex, a 7,411-yard, par-72 links-style layout that has been rated one of the top collegiate courses in the nation and one of the most difficult golf courses in Indiana.
Colorado, ranked No. 32 in the nation (GolfStat; No. 26 Golfweek) is the No. 6 seed in the field, its highest since the regionals went to six sites in 2009, when the Buffaloes were a No. 7 seed. This is the fifth straight year the Buffaloes have qualified for the NCAA postseason, and the 21st time in the 29-year history of regional play.
With final exams complete and the team celebrating three graduates last Friday, the Buffaloes can now focus on finishing in the top five of 13 teams competing here, which would earn CU its first trip to the NCAA Finals in some 15 years. Colorado has come close several times, including a sixth place finish in this very state two years ago after the Buffs owned the first round lead.
"We were really, really loose during finals as we wanted the guys to concentrate on academics, Edwards said. "Their schedules were so different, that we left it up to them when to fit in some practice or go to the range. A couple of the guys played in the U.S. Open Qualifying and got a competitive round in. It's really not a group of guys who we have to ask to practice."
Colorado will be represented by senior Ethan Freeman, one of Friday's graduates, juniors Spencer Painton, Yannik Paul and John Souza and freshman Victor Bjorlow. All competed in the Pac-12's and were separated by a total of five strokes over 54 holes.
Freeman is second on the team in stroke average with a 72.00 figure, followed by Paul (72.21), Souza (73.32), Painton (73.84) and Bjorlow (74.41). The stroke average leader, Jeremy Paul (71.75) turned professional last month and thus can no longer compete.
"We've got a lot of experience," Edwards said, confident of the makeup of this year's regional team. "Even though Victor has just come into the lineup, he has a lot of experience playing golf around the world. It's a group of guys who really enjoy each other and playing together, and any of these players can play well at any time.
"Kampen is a tremendous test of golf; you have to manage your mistakes," he continued. "There will be times when you're going to hit into a lot of tough spots, and when that happens, you need to keep it to a bogey when chances are a big number can happen. My guess is that almost every hole you make par will gain you shots on the field; most holes are going to play over par. You need to be smart but not defensive, have confidence and believe in yourself."
The Buffaloes won't have a minor disadvantage they have faced in three of their last four regional appearances; CU has been sent to the south where Bermuda grasses are the norm, the kind the Buffs don't see very often. Edwards likes the makeup of the 13-team field.
"It's always interesting with six regionals what the field make up is," he noted. "This is a really good mix of teams from all over the country, which is what I feel every regional should look like. Last year, we were in the southeast with five SEC teams and four others from the region. As I've said, this is a great golf course – difficult – but I think the guys are going to love it. That's as big a deal as anything, getting to learn the golf course in a very short period of time."
Asked if his team was out for some immediate redemption following a seventh-place finish in the Pac-12 Championships, which the school hosted, Edwards had this to say:
"Absolutely. Spencer played well, John and Victor had some good moments. But if anything, Ethan and Yannik are the most excited to go to the regional and play well, as those guys are key for us. Both were disappointed in their Pac-12 performances, which was a bit below their normal stellar play.
"Every team has highs and lows during the season, and I do feel like we're coming out of a low," Edwards continued. "I've seen a lot of good things going on, and we need to put it together for regionals. There's no doubt this team is capable of advancing to the finals and we're looking forward to the opportunity to do so."
In the first round, the Buffaloes will be paired with Auburn and South Carolina and will start on the No. 10 tee at 6:20 a.m. MDT. The weather forecast at this point appears perfect: low 70s for temperatures and sunny skies with negligible winds.
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