By: Tim Flynn
Story Links
Midwestern State Invitational
Monday-Tuesday – hosted by Midwestern State – Wichita Falls CC – Wichita Falls, Texas [Live Leaderboard]
Oakwood Intercollegiate
Monday-Tuesday – hosted by Dodge City CC – Oakwood CC – Enid, Okla. [Live Leaderboard]
MINES PLAY IN TWO SPRING BREAK TOURNAMENTS
With Colorado School of Mines hitting its spring break, the Orediggers split up to play in two tournaments this coming week with the main squad heading to north Texas for the Midwestern State Invitational, and the developmental squad playing in the Oakwood Intercollegiate in Oklahoma. Both tournaments will take place Monday and Tuesday over 54 holes. The Midwestern State Invitational features strong regional competition including four ranked opponents in the latest GCAA poll in #9 St. Mary’s, #17 Dallas Baptist, #23 Midwestern State, and #25 UT Permian Basin. The Oakwood Intercollegiate, which Mines technically will take part in as individuals, features the region’s top juco and NAIA programs.
LAST TIME OUT
Mines last played in the Las Vegas Desert Classic on March 1-3, finishing ninth in a nationally-elite field. The Orediggers were led by freshman Enzo Martínez in T27, with Colt Tenpenny finishing T42 and Lucas Schulte T48. Lukas Taggart bounced back from a tough opening round to shooting a final-round 70 for T60, and Liam Allan ended T83.
THE FORECAST
Wichita Falls will have pleasant playing conditions Monday at a high of 74 and decreasing winds under mostly cloudy skies, opening up to highs in the upper 80s with sunshine on Tuesday. It will be similar for the Oakwood Intercollegiate in Enid, Okla, with Monday topping out at 65 under cloudy and windy skies and Tuesday a mostly sunny day with a high of 81.
THE COURSES
Wichita Falls Country Club was completely renovated and redesigned in 2008 by D.A. Weibring and Steve Wolfard and plays 6,884 yards from the black tees at par 71. Oakwood Country Club opened in 1947 designed by Perry Maxwell (who had earlier designed renovations at Augusta National), and is also a par-71 track playing 6,885 yards from the blacks.
IN THE POLLS
In September, Mines was picked in a tie for second in the RMAC preseason coaches’ poll, tied with CSU Pueblo just behind Colorado Mesa while receiving a pair of first-place votes.
LOOKING AHEAD
Mines will take part in the Sam Proal Insurance Invitational on March 30-31 in Pueblo.
MINES LINEUP – MIDWESTERN STATE INVITATIONAL
1. Colt Tenpenny (Sr.)
Finished 23rd at the Regional Preview and T42 at the Las Vegas Desert Classic … Has two top-10s in five starts including fourth at the Bob Writz Individual and T9 at the San Juan Intercollegiate … Second on the team averaging 73.7.
2. Enzo Martínez (Fr.)
Made scoring debut in Las Vegas and was Mines’ top finisher at T27 … Shot 71 in the first round … Leads team averaging 73.38 … Had two top-10s in the fall with the developmental squad, finishing T6 at the Writz Individual and 4th at the Battle at the Dance.
3. Lukas Taggart (Sr.)
Closed strongly with rounds of 72 and 70 at the Las Vegas Desert Classic … RMAC Golfer of the Week after the Bob Writz Invitational … Finished as the runner-up at that tournament at -3.
4. Liam Allan (Fr.)
Finished seventh at the Regional Preview and T83 at the Desert Classic … Has two top-five finishes, coming in fifth at both the Bob Writz Individual and San Juan Intercollegiate … Shot 64 in the San Juan second round, Mines’ low round of the year and best round since 2016.
5. Lucas Schulte (R-Sr.)
Was T48 at the Desert Classic with Mines’ co-low round of 70 … Had a season-best T15 finish at the Bob Writz Individual … Was also T24 at the San Juan Intercollegiate and T28 at the Shootout at PGA Riviera Maya.
MINES LINEUP – OAKWOOD INTERCOLLEGIATE
Davis Kushner (Fr.)
Played in two fall tournaments, finishing 8th at the Bob Writz Individual and T31 at the Battle at the Dance.
Devin Nguyen (Fr.)
Appeared twice in the fall, debuting T24 at the Bob Writz Individual … Had career-best T20 finish at the Battle at the Dance.
Eric Casademont Vinyoles (So.)
Played three times in the fall, finishing T24 in all four tournaments … Shot par or better five times, including a -1 70-71-71 San Juan Intercollegiate showing.
Alexander Samuelsson (Fr.)
Appeared in two fall tournaments … Best finish was T21 at the Bob Writz Individual, and was 27th at the Battle at the Dance.
Charlie Tran (Jr.)
Played in two fall outings … Was T28 at the Bob Writz Individual, and then was T35 to close the fall at the Battle at the Dance.