Gonzaga University
Mark Simpson Colorado Invitational - Day One
Gaske Enters Final Round in Top-20
9/26/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
ERIE, Colo. -- Ryan Gaske is tied for 19th place after two rounds of the Mark Simpson Colorado Invitational. As a team, Gonzaga men's golf sits in a tie for 12th place.
Gaske is three-under par (141) after the second round on the Colorado National Golf Club's course. He was even-par (72) in Round 1, before closing the day with a 69 (-3) in the second round. The senior had four of his seven birdies in the second round. He had 13 pars in both of the rounds.
The Bulldogs climbed from 16th to 12th after the first round. GU was five-over (293) in Round 1 and one-under (287) in the second, for a 580 (+4) Day 1 total.
"The course was ripe for birdies and we had opportunities, but we didn't make enough putts to be at the top of the leaderboard," Gonzaga Head Coach Robert Gray said. "Other than taking a high fourth score in the first round, we played fairly well. A solid round tomorrow can move us up the leaderboard like we did in the second round today.
"Our finish was big the second round, led by Ryan Gaske's birdie, birdie finish. We played our final four holes one-under par and that was the difference in us moving up, compared to how we finished in the first round."
Angus Montgomery is tied for 37th at even-par (144). He carded a 71 (-1) in the first round and a 73 (+1) in Round 2. The senior also had seven birdies through the first 36 holes. Nick Nolan is a stroke behind in a tie for 47th. The freshman is one-over (145) after rounds of 72 (E) and 73 (+1). He had eight birdies Monday.
David Ganz and Tyler Munetake are tied for 82nd and 97th. Ganz has a 150 two-round total (+6), while Munetake is at 11-over (155). Both improved their first round scores in the second round. Ganz started with a 78 (+6) and finished with a 72 (E). Munetake followed up an 80 (+8) in Round 1, with a 75 (+3) in the second round.
Colorado leads the team leaderboard by five strokes at 18-under (558). Utah is in second place. Colorado was led by Morten Toft Hansen's first-day finish. He sits atop the individual leaderboard at eight-under (136). He had a 71 (-1) in the first round and a 65 (-7) in Round 2. Two golfers are a stroke behind in second.
"With the leaderboard being so bunched up, tomorrow is going to be a huge day for us," Gray said. "We have to keep giving ourselves opportunities and get some putts to fall."
The third and final round begins Tuesday morning at 7:15 Pacific Time. Live scoring will be available on GoZags.com.
