Newcomers Highlight Final Round at Mark Simpson Colorado Invite

Monday, September 28

Boulder, CO

All Day

University of Northern Colorado

Mark Simpson Colorado Invite

9/29/2015 5:01:00 PM | Men's Golf

By: UNCBears.com

FINAL RESULTS

BOULDER, Colo. – After a solid 36 holes and having two players one stroke and three strokes out of the lead at the Mark Simpson Colorado Invite, the men's golf team took a step back on Tuesday, finishing the final day of play with a team score of 304, their highest of the tournament.

UNC dropped two spots to 10th place and ended the invite with a final of 885 (293-288-304).

"On the bright side we had two freshman, Li Chen and Josh Matz play well today," said head coach Roger Prenzlow. "As a team we are having trouble getting our four good scores on the board each round."

Seniors Steven Kupcho and Conner Barr were in the hunt after day one. Kupcho was even par for the tournament and was a single stroke behind the leader, while Barr sat just three strokes back.

Barr faired the best out of the pair in the final 18 holes, but still didn't finish how he wanted. Barr had a difficult front nine, marking bogey on four of the nine holes, but regrouped on the back, playing par golf to end with a 74 (+4).

Overall the senior finished +6 over (74-68-74) for the tournament, tying for 16th overall.

Kupcho had a hard day out on the links. Heading into the finale, he sat in a tie for fourth place and was just one stroke back from the lead after shooting back-to-back rounds of 70 (E) on Monday.

Kupcho carded a season high 81 (+11), dropping 31 spots on the leaderboard to end in 35^th place.

"Conner Barr played a very solid tournament and Steven Kupcho played very well his first two rounds," Prenzlow said.

Freshman Josh Matz produced the best round of the day and the tournament for the team. Matz played his way to a 72 (+2). After shooting +3 over on the front nine, Matz was able to make birdie to start the turn and played even par for the rest of the way to finish at +2 over.

Matz was +11 over (75-74-72) after 54 holes and tied Kupcho for 35th place.

Sophomore Sam Marley had the next best placing after his three rounds at the Boulder Country Club.

Marley signed off on a 78 (+8), completing the meet at +19 over (75-76-78), tying for 61st overall.

Junior Julian Woodfork rounded out the two-day tournament for UNC, after heading into the clubhouse with an 80 (+10) in his third round.

Woodfork was eight spots back of Marley, taking 68th place after a +23 over (74-79-80) performance.

Playing independently at the tournament was freshman Li Chen. Chen tallied a 73 (+3) in his final round and finished in the Top 50, taking 47th after shooting +14 over (74-77-73).

Host school Colorado and Missouri-Kanas City tied for the team title, with an 847 (+7 overall). The Roos' Antoine Rozner was the individual winner, with a 208 (-2 overall) after 54 holes.

"We have a few weeks now to assess where we are at and evaluate our strengths and weaknesses and improve before our next competition," Prenzlow added.

The Bears play in one final tournament to wrap up their fall season, heading to Simi Valley, California to compete in the Bill Cullum Invitational hosted by Cal State-Northridge on Oct. 19-20.