Erie is buzzing with excitement for the 15th Annual Mark Simpson-CU Invitational. This two-day golf tournament will take place at Colorado National Golf Club, a beautiful course just 12 miles from the CU campus. Meanwhile, down south at The Broadlands Golf Course in Broomfield, the CU team is also holding the second Les Fowler Individual Invitational. The first one kicked off in 2019.
This year, 19 teams are gearing up to compete. Notable participants include Colorado, Northern Colorado, and Wyoming, who have all been part of this event multiple times. Others in the lineup are Arkansas State, Boise State, and many more. Interestingly, last year’s champion, Colorado State, won’t be in attendance, but they’re sending players to the Fowler Individual tournament.
UTEP’s Dylan Teeter, who tied for the medal in last year’s Invitational, is back in action, aiming to be the second player to win it twice. The only player to achieve this was Utah’s Kyler Dunkle, who claimed the title in 2017 and again in 2018.
CU head coach Roy Edwards expressed his enthusiasm about hosting the tournament. “The weather looks great, and Colorado National is in top shape. Our team has been practicing hard, and we feel confident about our performance,” he said. “The Les Fowler tournament allows us to invite more teams, making it an exciting week for everyone involved.”
Currently, Colorado’s golf team is ranked 26th in the Golf Coaches Association of America’s preseason poll. They’ve had a strong start this season with two third-place finishes in previous tournaments. All eight CU players will compete in the Simpson Invitational, led by senior Hunter Swanson.
Four players from CU are performing especially well, with their average scores under par. Freshman Tyler Long is also in the spotlight; he’ll be recognized this Friday as a “Future Famer” at the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame awards banquet.
The action kicks off Monday morning with back-to-back rounds—36 holes of play for both events. The Simpson starts at 8:15 a.m., and the Fowler begins at 8 a.m. Both courses present a challenge, with Colorado National spanning 7,787 yards and The Broadlands covering 7,289 yards, both at par 72.
The tournament celebrates the legacies of Mark Simpson and Les Fowler, two former head coaches of the CU golf program. Simpson coached for 29 years and was inducted into the GCAA Hall of Fame shortly before his passing in 2005. Fowler also left a lasting mark on the program for nearly three decades.
These golf events not only honor past legends but also bring together teams and fans in celebration of the sport. Both tournaments are free to attend, inviting the community to experience the thrill of college golf.
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