University of Northern Colorado Athletics
Bears Open Spring in Mexico
2/1/2025 6:32:00 PM | Men's Golf
PLAYA DEL CARMEN, Mexico – Northern Colorado tees off the spring portion of its schedule at the Vaqueros Intercollegiate – hosted by UTRGV - Iberostar Playa Paraíso Golf Club (par 72/6,701 yards) Sunday, Feb. 2 – Tuesday, Feb. 4.
"We showed signs of what this team is capable of in the fall and we have five opportunities to show off our talent before we compete at our first Summit League Championship in April," UNC Director of Golf Clayton Sikorski said.
The Bears lineup in Mexico includes Westin Pals, Antti Vahvahelka, Cooper Tate, Palmer Mutcheson and Jaeseung Na for the three-day, 54-hole tournament.
After a fall season that featured solid play but mixed results with eight new members on the squad, the Bears look to get out of the gates strong.
Pals and Vahvaselka the lone returners from last season's team provide leadership and poise as the upperclassmen on the team.
Matias Koropeski put in a lot of arduous work in the fall and he will look to continue his growth during spring. Davis Miller has been hampered by injury but could be ready to go as early as the second event of the spring.
The 15-team field includes Abilene Christian, Cal Baptist, Denver, Lamar, Louisiana, Northern Colorado, North Texas, Seton Hall, SMU, UTA, UTEP, UTRGV (host), UTSA, Western Carolina and Wichita State.
Each round begins at 8:30 a.m. ET/ 6:30 MT with a shotgun start. Live stats are available here.
This marks the second straight appearance at the Vaqueros Invitational for the Bears. UNC shot a 921 as a team over the 54 holes, four shots behind eighth-place Abilene Christian and nine strokes more than eight-placed UAB. VCU won the event with a 5-over-par 869, 19 swings less than second-place UTEP and Lamar.
TJ Shehee, who graduated, paced UNC with a nine-over-par 225 (78-72-75), including an even-par score on Tuesday's round. He finished in a four-way tie for 14th.
Vahvaselka completed the event in a four-way tie for 21st, two strokes behind Shehee at 227. Vahvaselka opened with a 78 Monday and tallied a 77 Tuesday, before closing with an even-par 72.
Following the tournament in Mexico, UNC continues its schedule at the Loyola Intercollegiate – hosted by Loyola (Md.) – at the Palm Valley Golf Club in Goodyear, Arizona, Feb. 16–18.
The Bears return to Arizona for a pair of tournaments in March, first at the GCU Invitational – hosted by Grand Canyon – on the GCU Golf Course March 11-12.
March 31 and April 1 UNC competes at the Wyoming Desert Intercollegiate – hosted by Wyoming – on the AK-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Course in Maricopa, Arizona.
The Bears compete at the Old Corkscrew Intercollegiate – hosted by FGCU – on the Old Corkscrew Golf Course in Estero, Florida April 7-8.
UNC plays in its first Summit League Championship April 27-29 at the Longbow Golf Club in Mesa, Arizona.
"We showed signs of what this team is capable of in the fall and we have five opportunities to show off our talent before we compete at our first Summit League Championship in April," UNC Director of Golf Clayton Sikorski said.
The Bears lineup in Mexico includes Westin Pals, Antti Vahvahelka, Cooper Tate, Palmer Mutcheson and Jaeseung Na for the three-day, 54-hole tournament.
After a fall season that featured solid play but mixed results with eight new members on the squad, the Bears look to get out of the gates strong.
Pals and Vahvaselka the lone returners from last season's team provide leadership and poise as the upperclassmen on the team.
Matias Koropeski put in a lot of arduous work in the fall and he will look to continue his growth during spring. Davis Miller has been hampered by injury but could be ready to go as early as the second event of the spring.
The 15-team field includes Abilene Christian, Cal Baptist, Denver, Lamar, Louisiana, Northern Colorado, North Texas, Seton Hall, SMU, UTA, UTEP, UTRGV (host), UTSA, Western Carolina and Wichita State.
Each round begins at 8:30 a.m. ET/ 6:30 MT with a shotgun start. Live stats are available here.
This marks the second straight appearance at the Vaqueros Invitational for the Bears. UNC shot a 921 as a team over the 54 holes, four shots behind eighth-place Abilene Christian and nine strokes more than eight-placed UAB. VCU won the event with a 5-over-par 869, 19 swings less than second-place UTEP and Lamar.
TJ Shehee, who graduated, paced UNC with a nine-over-par 225 (78-72-75), including an even-par score on Tuesday's round. He finished in a four-way tie for 14th.
Vahvaselka completed the event in a four-way tie for 21st, two strokes behind Shehee at 227. Vahvaselka opened with a 78 Monday and tallied a 77 Tuesday, before closing with an even-par 72.
Following the tournament in Mexico, UNC continues its schedule at the Loyola Intercollegiate – hosted by Loyola (Md.) – at the Palm Valley Golf Club in Goodyear, Arizona, Feb. 16–18.
The Bears return to Arizona for a pair of tournaments in March, first at the GCU Invitational – hosted by Grand Canyon – on the GCU Golf Course March 11-12.
March 31 and April 1 UNC competes at the Wyoming Desert Intercollegiate – hosted by Wyoming – on the AK-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Course in Maricopa, Arizona.
The Bears compete at the Old Corkscrew Intercollegiate – hosted by FGCU – on the Old Corkscrew Golf Course in Estero, Florida April 7-8.
UNC plays in its first Summit League Championship April 27-29 at the Longbow Golf Club in Mesa, Arizona.
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
Thursday, May 07
Tuesday, March 24
Tuesday, March 17
Tuesday, December 23
