Colorado State University Athletics
Tuesday, September 17
Fort Collins, CO
Colorado State
vs
Ram Masters Invitational Day 1
Good All the Way Around
9/17/2024 7:49:00 PM | Men's Golf
In the hunt to start the Kennedy era checks all the boxes
Take some curiosity and mix in a touch of nerves. Add a dash of pressure and a splash of the unknown. Tuesday had a lot of ingredients in the pot with no real recipe to follow.
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Not with four fresh players. Not with a new man at the top of pyramid for Colorado State's men's golf team. The overriding feeling for the Rams was it's about time. To not just play competitively again, but just to play.
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"I just feel like the last tournament I played, it was so long ago. Even with summer tournaments, the last one I played was two months ago," CSU newcomer Alessandro Trenta said. "This was very much needed, playing another tournament. Once you get it going, you're in the flow and it's just going to continue. The first one is usually one of the tougher ones. I think we did decent today."
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That they did, shooting 9-under over 36 holes to open the Rams Masters Tournament, the traditional season opener for the squad at the Fort Collins Country Club. The score has the hosts tied for second with Colorado, four shots back of Utah Tech, two of those strokes off the strength of KJ Ofahengaue's ace on No. 14 in the second round of the day.
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A beautiful day briefly gave way to darks skies and 15 minutes of rain but did nothing to dampen the tournament's flow. Teams will tee off in Wednesday's final round at 8 a.m.
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Jack Kennedy's first day as the Rams' head coach was pretty satisfying.
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"I told every team I've coached our job is to give ourselves a chance with nine holes to go, and we're right there. It will be a fun day (Wednesday)," Kennedy said. "It's almost nice playing from behind for some of our guys who don't have the experience, but I'm just excited to have the opportunity for them."
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The Rams were 7-under the first 18 holes, 3-under the final 18. Utah Tech surged to the front with a 10-under the second round; the Buffs in the hunt after an opening round 12-under.
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Anthony Delisanti of Valparaiso leads the individual board at 10-under, with Colorado State sophomore Jake Rodgers four strokes back.
Â
Kennedy spent time with his entire squad during the day, focusing on keeping them all positive. He was because he felt his team didn't give away any strokes during the rounds, a goal for every player but not always easy to reach.
Â
Especially when the Rams were going at the tournament from different vantage points in their career. And playing a tournament is not the same as the qualifying rounds which set the roster for the event.
Â
"It was a mixture. You obviously want to get some good qualifying in, and I know Alessandro has played other college tournaments, but our freshmen were like, 'what's this thing all about?'" Matthew Wilkinson said. "I think it was good. It's a little later start to the year, but we finally get the wheels rolling."
Â
Wilkinson and Trenta were playing partners with rival Wyoming, something Wilkinson is used to, but it was different for his transfer teammates from Winona State.
Â
Kennedy wasn't hired until August, giving the team about six weeks to acclimate. The same goes for the four Ram rookies on the roster finding their role on the team. Playing together was another step toward bonding as teammates.
Â
"In Division II, it was not very common to play with your teammates. I don't know if it's normal for DI, so that was really nice," Trenta said. "We're both juniors, but I don't know why, it feels like he's a senior and he's very mature on the golf course, too. Having Matt on the course, cheering me up every now and then, saying, 'hey, you got it,' helps."
Â
Half of the teams in the field shot under par, while a trio of the Rams' five did, with Wilkinson and Christoph Bleier both finishing at 1-under; Trenta was even for the day, freshman Bryant Hernandez 2-over.
Â
Scores which Kennedy felt were earned by the way they handled themselves.
Â
"It was nice to see them under pressure, and I thought they were phenomenal," he said. "We had our little moments, but everybody is sloppy in September. Overall, I was just really proud of the guys. It was a great start."
Â
Now, Wilkinson wants a great finish. The Rams didn't open with a win in the tournament last year, snapping an eight-year win streak at the Ram Masters. They'd like to get that back.
Â
And putting the field behind them would come with an extra perk.
Â
"I mean, last year we had that little hiccup in there. I think for us returners, it's in the back of our minds we want to get the streak going again," Wilkinson said. "I feel like we've put ourselves in a good position. Obviously, we have to execute and beat that team from down south, but I think we have a good chance."
Â
As well as the team from the west, the one the Rams still have to catch. Trenta is with his teammate on this, sticking to the plan and continuing to play solid shot by shot.
Â
They know not every shot will be perfect. Their reaction can be, however, as could be the reaction at the end of the day.
Â
"I wouldn't mind starting off my DI career with a team win," Trenta said. "That's pretty much what matters the most."
Â
Which would be a great start to a new era.
Â
Â
Not with four fresh players. Not with a new man at the top of pyramid for Colorado State's men's golf team. The overriding feeling for the Rams was it's about time. To not just play competitively again, but just to play.
Â
"I just feel like the last tournament I played, it was so long ago. Even with summer tournaments, the last one I played was two months ago," CSU newcomer Alessandro Trenta said. "This was very much needed, playing another tournament. Once you get it going, you're in the flow and it's just going to continue. The first one is usually one of the tougher ones. I think we did decent today."
Â
That they did, shooting 9-under over 36 holes to open the Rams Masters Tournament, the traditional season opener for the squad at the Fort Collins Country Club. The score has the hosts tied for second with Colorado, four shots back of Utah Tech, two of those strokes off the strength of KJ Ofahengaue's ace on No. 14 in the second round of the day.
Â
A beautiful day briefly gave way to darks skies and 15 minutes of rain but did nothing to dampen the tournament's flow. Teams will tee off in Wednesday's final round at 8 a.m.
Â
Jack Kennedy's first day as the Rams' head coach was pretty satisfying.
Â
"I told every team I've coached our job is to give ourselves a chance with nine holes to go, and we're right there. It will be a fun day (Wednesday)," Kennedy said. "It's almost nice playing from behind for some of our guys who don't have the experience, but I'm just excited to have the opportunity for them."
Â
The Rams were 7-under the first 18 holes, 3-under the final 18. Utah Tech surged to the front with a 10-under the second round; the Buffs in the hunt after an opening round 12-under.
Â
Anthony Delisanti of Valparaiso leads the individual board at 10-under, with Colorado State sophomore Jake Rodgers four strokes back.
Â
Kennedy spent time with his entire squad during the day, focusing on keeping them all positive. He was because he felt his team didn't give away any strokes during the rounds, a goal for every player but not always easy to reach.
Â
Especially when the Rams were going at the tournament from different vantage points in their career. And playing a tournament is not the same as the qualifying rounds which set the roster for the event.
Â
"It was a mixture. You obviously want to get some good qualifying in, and I know Alessandro has played other college tournaments, but our freshmen were like, 'what's this thing all about?'" Matthew Wilkinson said. "I think it was good. It's a little later start to the year, but we finally get the wheels rolling."
Â
Wilkinson and Trenta were playing partners with rival Wyoming, something Wilkinson is used to, but it was different for his transfer teammates from Winona State.
Â
Kennedy wasn't hired until August, giving the team about six weeks to acclimate. The same goes for the four Ram rookies on the roster finding their role on the team. Playing together was another step toward bonding as teammates.
Â
"In Division II, it was not very common to play with your teammates. I don't know if it's normal for DI, so that was really nice," Trenta said. "We're both juniors, but I don't know why, it feels like he's a senior and he's very mature on the golf course, too. Having Matt on the course, cheering me up every now and then, saying, 'hey, you got it,' helps."
Â
Half of the teams in the field shot under par, while a trio of the Rams' five did, with Wilkinson and Christoph Bleier both finishing at 1-under; Trenta was even for the day, freshman Bryant Hernandez 2-over.
Â
Scores which Kennedy felt were earned by the way they handled themselves.
Â
"It was nice to see them under pressure, and I thought they were phenomenal," he said. "We had our little moments, but everybody is sloppy in September. Overall, I was just really proud of the guys. It was a great start."
Â
Now, Wilkinson wants a great finish. The Rams didn't open with a win in the tournament last year, snapping an eight-year win streak at the Ram Masters. They'd like to get that back.
Â
And putting the field behind them would come with an extra perk.
Â
"I mean, last year we had that little hiccup in there. I think for us returners, it's in the back of our minds we want to get the streak going again," Wilkinson said. "I feel like we've put ourselves in a good position. Obviously, we have to execute and beat that team from down south, but I think we have a good chance."
Â
As well as the team from the west, the one the Rams still have to catch. Trenta is with his teammate on this, sticking to the plan and continuing to play solid shot by shot.
Â
They know not every shot will be perfect. Their reaction can be, however, as could be the reaction at the end of the day.
Â
"I wouldn't mind starting off my DI career with a team win," Trenta said. "That's pretty much what matters the most."
Â
Which would be a great start to a new era.
Â
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
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