Maricopa, Ariz. (May 21, 2023) -- The Wyoming Cowboy golf team concluded its outstanding 2022-23 season with a second-place finish at the first-ever GOLFWEEK National Golf Invitational (NGI) on Sunday. Wyoming entered Sunday's final round four strokes behind tournament leader Texas State. The Cowboys made up three strokes on the Bobcats to finish at 858 (-6) only one stroke behind the eventual tournament champion Texas State, which posted an 857 (-7). Cowboy seniors
Tyler Severin and
Kirby Coe-Kirkham led the way for the Pokes and concluded their college careers finishing seventh and 20th, respectively.
The final round on Sunday saw multiple teams lead the tournament at different stages of the round, including the Cowboys at one point. In the end, only two strokes separated the Top 5 teams, with Texas State posting an 857 (-7), Wyoming and Penn State tying for second at 858 (-6) and Ball State and Stetson tying for fourth at 859 (-5).
For Severin and Coe-Kirkham they wrapped up outstanding college careers on Sunday. Severin's seventh-place finish was his best finish of the year, his fifth Top 25 finish of the season and his 17th career Top 25 finish. Coe-Kirkham's 20th-place showing was also his fifth Top 25 finish this season and the 19th of his career.
Wyoming's second-place finish marked the seventh time in 13 tournaments during the 2022-23 season that the Cowboys finished among the Top 5 teams in a tournament, including three consecutive Top 5 finishes to end the season.
All five Cowboys contributed to Wyoming's strong finish on Sunday. On the back nine Sunday, junior
Jimmy Dales recorded two eagles on the 13th and 16th holes with a birdie on No. 14 to fuel Wyoming's comeback and move them back into the lead. Coe-Kirkham also had an eagle on the 13th and a birdie on the 17th. Sophomore
Patrick Azevedo birdied the 13th and 14th holes, while sophomore
Jaren Calkins birdied the 14th. Dales was the third Cowboy to post a Top 25 finish, tying for 21st at 217 (+1). Calkins tied for 27th at 218 (+2), and Azevedo tied for 41st in the field of 65 individual golfers at 221 (+5).
"This was a wonderful tournament and a wonderful effort by our guys. I'm very proud of our team," said
Joe Jensen, UW Director of Golf. "We held a one-stroke lead going into the 18th hole, but we couldn't quite hold on to it. That said, it was such a great experience to play in this tournament against some excellent teams. I can't say enough about how well run this tournament was.
"For Tyler (Severin) and Kirby (Coe-Kirkham) to finish their college careers this way in postseason was emotional. They nearly concluded their careers winning their final tournament. There is so much love on this team, and I'm more than honored to be part of a team with such great kids who represent our school so well. These players have so much respect for the University of Wyoming and have had a great college experience. I'm grateful for the effort they've given us all year and this was a fantastic way to finish what has been a very good season."
This week's tournament was Wyoming's first postseason appearance since 2017 when former Cowboy
Ryan Wallen qualified as an individual for the NCAA Regionals.
The GOLFWEEK National Golf Invitational was played on the Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club in Maricopa, Ariz. The course measured 7,360 yards and played to a par of 72.
Team Standings
1. Texas State 285-280-292=857 (-7)
2. Wyoming 280-289-289=858 (-6)
Penn State 281-294-283=858 (-6)
4. Ball State 286-287-286=859 (-5)
Stetson 290-284-285=859 (-5)
6. Arkansas State 294-291-282=867 (+3)
Washington State 283-298-286=867 (+3)
8. Oral Roberts 287-288-293=868 (+4)
9. Troy 285-293-293=871 (+7)
10. Utah Valley 286-285-304=875 (+11)
11. George Washington 292-292-298=882 (+18)
12. Santa Clara 289-300-301=890 (+26)
Valparaiso 287-296-307=890 (+26)
Wyoming Cowboys
T7
Tyler Severin 66-69-78=213 (-3)
T18
Kirby Coe-Kirkham 73-75-68=216 (Even)
T21
Jimmy Dales 70-72-75=217 (+1)
T27
Jaren Calkins 71-74-73=218 (+2)
T41
Patrick Azevedo 74-74-73=221 (+5)
