Buffs Slip to Seventh at San Diego R.E. Lamkin Invitational
In the sunny setting of Chula Vista, California, the University of Colorado men's golf team faced a challenging day at the San Diego R.E. Lamkin Invitational, ultimately finishing in seventh place. Despite a strong start, the Buffs couldn't maintain their momentum, slipping from fifth after two rounds to a 2-over 866 team score.
Co-host and No. 51-ranked University of San Diego claimed the team title with an impressive 26-under par 838, narrowly holding off Long Beach State, who finished two strokes back. BYU, St. Mary's, and San Diego State rounded out the top five.
Colorado's performance was marked by an uncharacteristic absence of subpar rounds, a rarity for the team since the '21-22 season. First-year graduate transfer Jackson Rivera led the Buffs, tying for 12th place with a 3-under 213.
Rivera's round was a rollercoaster, starting strong at 2-under through five holes before a series of bogeys set him back. Nevertheless, he managed a team-high 13 birdies over the tournament.
Senior Hunter Swanson tied for 24th, closing with a 1-over 73 to finish 1-over 217 overall. His round was a mix of birdies and bogeys, but he managed to navigate the challenging 18th hole with a par, contributing to CU's collective resilience on that hole.
Sophomore Parker Paxton matched Swanson's even-par start to the tournament, ending tied for 30th at 2-over 218. His consistency on the par-5s was a highlight, as he joined Rivera and Swanson in parring the tough 18th.
Junior Brandon Knight's final round of 5-over 77 left him tied for 38th, with double bogeys on both the front and back nines impacting his score. Junior Ty Holbrook struggled to find his rhythm, finishing with a 6-over 78 and placing 65th overall.
Head coach Roy Edwards reflected on the day's challenges, emphasizing the need for consistency. "We can't have multiple guys shoot over mid-70s," he noted.
"Jackson had a nice event overall, and everyone had some good moments. We'll work on regrouping and responding to the challenge."
In the individual competition, BYU's Kihei Akina surged to victory with a remarkable final round 8-under 64, overtaking Long Beach State's Alejandro De Castro by a single stroke.
Looking ahead, the Buffaloes will head to Tucson for the Arizona Thunderbirds Intercollegiate at Tucson Country Club next Monday, eager to bounce back and build on the lessons learned in San Diego.
Tournament Notes:
- The Buffs played the par-5s at 16-under, tying for fifth best in the field.
- Colorado's 48 birdies placed them sixth overall, while their pars and bogeys showed solid, if not spectacular, consistency.
- Despite a birdie-less round, Holbrook maintained his strong performance on par-5s throughout the season.
As the Buffs prepare for their next challenge, they'll aim to harness their strengths and address the areas needing improvement, ready to make their mark in Tucson.