Fort Collins, Colo. (Sept. 18, 2018) --  Dan Starzinski set a new Ram Masters Invitational tournament record of 11-under par, 199 to capture his first collegiate individual title on Tuesday.  Starzinski shot his second consecutive round of 66 (-4) on Tuesday to go with rounds of 67 and 66 on Monday.  He entered the final round of the Ram Masters Invitational with a one-stroke lead and extended that lead on Tuesday to win by seven strokes over his next closest competitor in the tournament hosted by Colorado State at the Fort Collins Country Club.
     
Tuesday was also a good day for the Wyoming team, as the Cowboys posted the second lowest score in the final round -- a 280 (+3) -- to move up two spots and finish in sixth place in the field of 17 teams.  The Pokes final team score for the 54-hole event was 860 (+20).
 
"Dan (Starzinski) played great again today," said UW Director of Golf and Head Coach Joe Jensen.  "He set a tournament record.  He played consistent all week, and that is something we are trying to get all of our players to do.  Dan just played his game.  He didn't treat today any differently that he did yesterday or last weekend.  He trusted his routine and his process.  As a player, that makes you comfortable.  He took it one hole at a time and played with patience.  I'm proud of him.  He did a really nice job.
 
"I'm also really proud of the way the guys played in the final round, shooting the second lowest round of the day.  Our goal last night when we met as a team was to have a good final round, and the guys went out and did that.  We had a lot of young guys out there this week.  John (Murdock) is the only player who was a regular starter for us last year who returns this year, so I know there will be growing pains with this team, but I'm encouraged by the way they finished this tournament strong."
 
Sophomore Carl Underwood tied for 38th, with a three-round total of 218 (+8).  True freshman Tyler Severin finished in a tie for 47th at 220 (+10).  Senior John Murdock tied for 62nd at 223 (+13), and true freshman Jimmy Dales finished in 93rd place, with a 250 (+40).   Two Cowboys also competed as individuals.  True freshman Kirby Coe-Kirkham shot a 216 (+6) and tied for 31st, and redshirt freshman Jared Edeen placed 79th, with a 228 (+18).
     
The team title was won by host Colorado State with a 836 (-4).  Illinois State finished second at 850 (+10).  South Dakota was third with a 854 (+14).  Denver shot the best score of the final round, a 282 (+2), for a three-round total of 855 (+15), and Northern Colorado placed fifth, one stroke ahead of the Cowboys, at 859 (+19).
 
In the race for the individual title Starzinski's 199 (-11) outdistanced Parathakorn Suyasri of Colorado State, who shot a combined score of 206 (-4).  Coby Welch of Northern Colorado (207, -3), Cal McCoy of Denver (208, -2) and Jake Staiano of Colorado State (209, -1) were the other individuals to finish under par.
 
Starzinski broke the tournament record by two strokes.  The previous record was set a year ago by Francois Lagraulet of UMKC.  He shot a 201 (-9) in 2017.
 
The tournament was played at the Fort Collins Country Club.  The course measured 7,218 yards and played to a par of 70.
 
The Cowboys will return to action on Monday and Tuesday, Sept. 24-25 at the Mark Simpson Colorado Invitational hosted by the University of Colorado in Boulder.
  
Team Standings
1.   Colorado State                    281-266-289=836 (-4)
2.   Illinois State                        280-278-292=850 (+10)
3.   South Dakota                      292-276-286=854 (+14)
4.   Denver                                288-285-282=855 (+15)
5.   Northern Colorado              288-280-291=859 (+19)
6.   Wyoming                            291-286-283=860 (+20)                                                      
7.   Wichita State                      292-280-291=863 (+23)
8.   Long Beach State                288-281-294=864 (+24)                                                      
9.   Seattle                                285-292-289=866 (+26)
10.  Cal State Fullerton               297-280-291=868 (+28)
11.  Washington State               291-288-292=871 (+31)
12.  Sam Houston State              290-287-295=872 (+32)
13.  South Dakota State             293-291-289=873 (+33)
14.  Idaho                                  294-293-298=885 (+45)
15.  North Dakota State             294-298-295=887 (+47)
16. Rice                                    291-291-309=891 (+51)
17.  Omaha                               298-297-304=899 (+59)                                                      
 
Wyoming Cowboys
1st              Dan Starzinski         67-66-66=199 (-11)
Tie 38th      Carl Underwood      73-70-75=218 (+8)
Tie 47th     Tyler Severin           77-71-72=220 (+10)
Tie 62nd     John Murdock         74-79-70=223 (+13)
93rd           Jimmy Dales            81-85-84=250 (+40)
 
Wyoming Cowboys Playing as Individuals
Tie 31st       Kirby Coe-Kirkham   72-71-73=216 (+6)
Tie 79th      Jared Edeen            74-75-79=228 (+18)