Sept. 30, 2014
Final Team Scores
Final Individual Scores
DENVER - The University of Denver men's golf team turned in a solid effort at the Mark Simpson Invitational at the Colorado National Golf Club in Erie, Colorado Tuesday. The Pioneers finished third in the 17-team field. The host school, Colorado, dominated the event, finishing at 20-under par. San Diego finished second at 9-under par while DU was 7-under for the weather shortened tournament. Originally slated for 54 holes, Monday afternoon's severe storms forced the tournament to be cut to 36 holes.
The drama on Tuesday was for the individual title. CU's David Oraee held off a gallant charge by DU sophomore Petter Mikalsen (Stavenger, Norway), who shot a 5-under 67 for the day to complete his two rounds at 8-under par. At one point, midway through the second round, Mikalsen cut the deficit to just one shot. But Oraee, a senior, playing on his home course, was able to widen the gap down the back nine, winning the tournament at an impressive 13-under par.
"Petter played fantastic," said Pioneers head coach Erik Billinger. "He got off to a hot start today, going birdie, birdie, eagle, birdie in his first four holes. He was the leader for us."
Billinger was also complementary of Oraee.
"He carried CU shooting 13-under and he didn't look back one bit and played the best of everybody. He was huge for CU."
Denver's Patrick Frodigh also finished under par. The lefty sophomore (Westwood, Mass.) shot a 1-under on Tuesday to end up at 3-under for the event.
"Patrick wasn't in our lineup the previous tournament (Ram Masters) so he worked his way into the lineup and stepped up big in this tournment," Billinger said.
After shooting a stellar 2-under 70 for the first round, DU's Adam Ruben was 4-over on Tuesday to complete the tournament at +2.
Next on the agenda for the Pioneers will be the Bill Ross Intercollegiate tournament in Overland Park, Kansas on October 13th and 14th.
"We're still fiddling with the lineup," an encouraged Billinger said. "We haven't had everybody play well at the same time and when that happens it's going to be a lot of fun."
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