After a disappointing fall season, the DU men’s golf team can’t wait to hit the ground running this weekend at the Thunderbird Invitational to start the spring season.
The Pioneers best finish in the fall came in the last of their five tournaments at the Air Force Fall Invite in Palm Springs, Calif. where they finished in second, seven strokes behind Colorado State in a field of 11 schools.
“We plan to begin the spring right where we left off in the fall. The nice break gave all of us ample amount of time to fine tune our games and prepare us to compete at any level. The whole team can’t wait, we are all very excited,” said junior Danny Wax.
The Air Force tournament was the rare bright spot for the team, as they started off the fall season with a ninth place finish out of 15 teams at the Wolf Run Intercollegiate with wax finishing in a tie for seventh as he shot a three-over par 216.
Next was the Wolf Pack Invitational in Reno, Nev., where DU finished in a tie for 11th and juniors Chris Gillman and Jeff Koprivetz both finished in a tie for 29th with a four-over 220.
Denver then traveled to La Quinta, Calif., where they participated in the Prestige at PGA West and finished in 14th out of 16 schools. Koprivetz was the leader for DU finishing in a tie for 30th with a five-over 221.
The Pioneers made an improvement at the Sycuan Invitational where they finished in seventh out of 17 teams led by Wax and Koprivetz who tied for 22nd with a 10-over par 226.
“The fall season was definitely a disappointment but we can’t live in the past. We need to put it behind us and focus on the spring season to come, in search of a taste of glory making this season one for the record books,” said Wax.
After starting the spring season this weekend in St. George, Utah the Pioneers will head to Honolulu, Hawaii, Feb. 20-22 for the John A. Burns Intercollegiate. They will then head to San Diego for the Barona Collegiate Cup March 17-18 before hosting the Ron Moore Invitational in Goodyear, Ariz. March 21-23.
The Pioneers will also make stops in Wichita, Kan. and Tempe, Ariz. before heading to the much anticipated Sun Belt Conference Championship at Muscle Shoals, Ala. April 21-23.
Last season Denver finished fourth in conference behind winner Louisina-Lafayette with their best ever finish in conference play being second during the 2002-03 season.
DU looks forward to getting rid of the disappointment from the fall season and putting together success in the spring.
