CSU, Jones Claim Victories at Gene Miranda Falcon Invitational

USAFA, Colo. – With all five players under par in the final round including winner Connor Jones and runner-up Davis Bryant, Colorado State dominated the final round of the 53^rd-annual Gene Miranda Falcon Invitational and earned a decisive 25-stroke victory, Sept. 11. The three-day, 54-hole tournament, hosted by the U.S. Air Force Academy, was played at the Eisenhower Blue Course (Par 72 – 7,541 yards) in USAFA, Colo.

Under near perfect conditions, the Rams entered the final day with just a five-shot lead but quickly pulled away from the remaining 23 teams behind a complete team effort. CSU shot 17-under 271, in the last round and finished at 30-under 834, 25 shots ahead of runner-up Colorado. This was CSU's fourth win and 11^th top-five finish in 13 appearances in the tournament. Mountain West rival San Jose State and New Mexico State tied for third at 3-under 861, with New Mexico State completing the top five teams at 4-over 868.

The team score was just three shots off the tournament record, three shots better than the team's previous 54-hole total in the event in winning in 2008, including the final round the best by four shots over the second round in 2017. CSU's 17-under total in the final 18 tied for the sixth lowest versus par since 1993-94, while the 834 was tied for 13^th. This was also the program's 41^st team title and first under first-year head coach Michael Wilson.

"The team played awesome today," Wilson said. "The five starters didn't make a bogey after hole four. Anytime you throw out a 70, it's pretty impressive stuff! Each of the five starters battled so hard and played beautifully."

"On top of that, Connor and Davis really pushed each other out there for the individual title and competed like champions," Wilson commented. "Davis never gave an inch with birdies on his last two holes and didn't make it easy. Big congrats to Connor for a final round 66 to win. He played with so much poise and determination. It was a fun day to watch and be a part of. This is an exciting day for our team."

The individual title battle became a two-player race on the back nine as Jones, a senior, and Bryant, a fifth-year, battled down to the wire. Jones held a two-shot lead into the final three holes, but his birdie on No. 16 was the difference as Bryant birdied the final two holes to make it a 1-2 finish for CSU. Jones finished with a team-best final-round 6-under 66 and earned a one-shot win at a career-best 13-under 203, one shot ahead of Bryant who shot a 3-under 69 in the last round for a career-low 12-under 204. For Jones, it was his third collegiate win, second in a full-field event and 36^th in CSU program history, while Bryant earned his 20^th top-20 placing in 40 college tournaments. Garrison Smith of New Mexico State was three shots back at 9-under 207 in third. Jones 203 is tied for the 10^th-lowest 54-hole total in program history, while the 13-under 203 is tied for the seventh versus par.

"It was great to start the year off in a such a dominant fashion as team," Jones said. "We could be really good this year, so it's only right we start the year off this way.

"From an individual standpoint, Davis and I have a great relationship and have grown close over the past year," Jones continued. "He's a great friend and a great competitor. He always pushes me to be my best because I know he will always be ready to play when tournament time comes. I'm glad I got him this time because he gets the best of me more than anyone I've ever played with and I can't wait for all the battles we will have in the future. I know there will be a lot of them."

Sophomore Christoph Bleier recorded his third straight par-or-better round with a 2-under 70 to tie for 13^th at 2-under 214. Playing in his first collegiate event, freshman Matthew Wilkinson continued to adjust quickly to college competition and again improved on his previous score, going three shots lower than Saturday with a 3-under 68 that put him at 1-under 215 for the tournament and a tie for 19^th. Sophomore Rasmus Hjelm shot his best round of the tournament with a 4-under 68, including going 6-under over the final 13 holes, to move up 28 spots and tie for 31^st at 2-over 218.

In the individual-only event on the Silver course, sophomore Jay Pabin shot a career-low 5-under 67 in the final round and finished as runner up at a career-best 8-under 208 (by 12 shots), three shots behind winner Davis Heslington of Utah Tech. Sophomore Gavin Hagstrom had a final-round 3-under 69, a career low, and placed fourth at 6-under 210, a career-best total by nine shots. Redshirt-freshman Jordan Jennings had his first collegiate under-par round with a 1-1under 71 to tie for 32^nd at 9-over 225.

CSU will return to action Monday and Tuesday, Sept. 19-20 when it hosts the annual Ram Masters Classic at Fort Collins Country Club. Admission is free to the two days of action, with each day's play starting at 8 a.m.

1	Colorado State	283	280	271	834	-30
2	Colorado	287	288	284	859	-5
T3	San Jose State	292	276	293	861	-3
T3	New Mexico State	290	290	281	861	-3
5	Wofford	295	288	285	868	+4
6	Utah State	287	290	292	869	+5
7	Cal State Northridge	287	294	291	872	+8
8	Boston College	296	291	287	874	+10
9	Weber State	293	298	285	876	+12
T10	Denver	292	296	290	878	+14
T10	Utah Tech	293	286	299	878	+14
12	Cal Poly	296	297	286	879	+15
13	Utah Valley	291	296	293	880	+16
T14	Texas El Paso	290	298	293	881	+17
T14	Northern Colorado	299	287	295	881	+17
16	Wyoming	295	300	292	887	+23
17	SIU Edwardsville	293	298	300	891	+27
18	California Baptist	300	299	296	895	+31
19	South Dakota	299	302	296	897	+33
20	Northern Iowa	308	300	295	903	+39
21	Idaho	309	296	304	909	+45
22	Air Force	302	306	305	913	+49
23	Murray State	306	310	302	918	+54
24	Southern Utah	308	316	315	939	+75

Top Five Individuals Plus CSU
1	Connor Jones (Colorado State)	68-69-66=203 (-13)
2	Davis Bryant (Colorado State)	67-68-69=204 (-12)
3	Garrison Smith (New Mexico State)	69-73-65=207 (-9)
4	Aidan Thomas (New Mexico State)	68-72-68=208 (-8)
5	Esteban Jaramillo (Utah State)	72-69-70=211 (-5)

T13	Christoph Bleier (Colorado State)	72-72-70=214 (-2)
T19	Matthew Wilkinson (Colorado State)	76-71-68=215 (-1)
T31	Rasmus Hjelm (Colorado State)	76-74-68=218 (+2)

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