HBU Men’s Golf Opens in 3rd at Mark Simpson CU Invite

Junior Val Almendarez tied for 2^nd, one stroke off lead.

ERIE, COLORADO (September 26, 2016)   HBU junior Val Almendarez posted back-to-back rounds under par and is only one stroke behind the leader, as the Huskies are in third after two rounds Monday at the Mark Simpson Colorado Invite at the 7,745-yard, par-72 Colorado National Golf Club.

Almendarez opened with a 70, then followed with a scorching 5-under par 67 to total 7-under par 137. He carded six birdies in the second round, five in the first, had a bogey in each round and a double-bogey in the first. Freshman Nicko Martinez held the lead after the first round with a 6-under par 66, but followed with a 73 and is tied for eighth at 139. He holed seven birdies in the first round, then three in the second. Sophomore Daniel Dimaculangon carded 73 in the first, but bounced back with a 69 to move up to a tie for 23^rd at 2-under par 142. Freshman Patricio Guerra is tied for 60^th at 3-over par 147, while freshman Colin Mulligan is tied for 75^th at 5-over par 149 with rounds of 74 and 75.

Host Colorado shot 12-under par 558 to lead Utah by six and HBU by seven. The Huskies are only one stroke ahead of Wyoming and Campbell, which are tied for fourth.

CU’s Morten Toft Hansen shot 71 in the first round, but tied with one other for the best round of the day with a 7-under 65 in the second to lead at 8-under par 136. Almendarez is tied with Air Force’s Sunwoo Choi, who had rounds of 69 and 68. Four other players are tied for fourth at 6-under par 138.

The tournament concludes with the third round Tuesday morning.