University of Colorado golfers carry a special bag tag and head cover in remembrance of their late coach, Mark Simpson.
And they keep one of his credos close to their hearts.
“Coach liked to tell us that champions get up faster than they fall,” said senior Edward McGlasson, an all-Big 12 Conference selection. “We’ve had to think about that a lot.”
In qualifying for this week’s NCAA Central Regional, the CU men’s golf team has overcome more adversity in six-plus months than most college athletes face in four years.
Simpson, the Buffaloes’ coach for 29 seasons, had recruited every member of the current squad. He lost a year-long battle with lung cancer Dec. 5 at age 55.
Under interim coach Brad Neher, the Buffs shook off their grief and got off to a strong start in their spring schedule with a second-place finish at the Houston All-American Intercollegiate in February and a victory in their CU-Stevinson Ranch (Calif.) Invitational in March. But seven CU golfers and Neher were suspended for the following tournament after it was revealed that the players visited a San Francisco strip club after their win at Stevinson Ranch.
Neher, an assistant to Simpson and a former CU player, resigned April 21. Assistant athletic director Charles Johnson accompanied the team to a tournament this past weekend in Ardmore, Okla., where the Buffs finished ninth. Assistant athletic director David Plati will supervise the squad during the regional competition in Chardon, Ohio.
“It really has been a wild year, a tough year to stay focused,” senior Kenny Coakley said. “We’ve had good times and bad. But we were able to keep in mind what we were working for.
“In a sense, having to deal with adversity has made us stronger. Life is how you respond to things. We’d all had it pretty good in life. I never thought I’d have to deal with stuff like we faced.”
Derek Tolan, a redshirt freshman from Highlands Ranch, said the closeness of the team helped to pull everybody through the difficult times.
“Our team is a bunch of guys who truly like each other,” Tolan said. “We were able to lean on each other.”
Colorado is seeded 19th in the Central Regional.
The Denver Pioneers drew a No. 16 seed at the West Regional in Tucson.
Colorado State failed to qualify a team for regional play for the first time in a dozen years, but junior Derrick Whiting was selected to play as an individual in the West Regional.
The three regionals each have 27 teams. The three-day, 54-hole competition begins Thursday. The top 10 teams from each regional will advance to the NCAA Championship, which is May 31-June 3 at the Crosswater Golf Club in Sunriver, Ore.
Colorado may be the only team competing in the regionals without a golf coach.
“Let’s face it, it’s golf; we all know what we need to do to play well,” Tolan said.
Colorado connection
COLORADO
Seed: No. 19 of 27 teams in the Central Regional, Sand Ridge Golf Club, Chardon, Ohio.
Top players: Senior Edward McGlasson (72.47, one win), freshman Derek Tolan (74.86), senior Kenny Coakley (76.08).
Recent NCAA history: CU’s 13th appearance in 18 years since creation of regional play, but Buffs missed last year.
DENVER
Seed: No. 16 of 27 teams in the West Regional, Omni Tucson National Golf Club, Tucson.
Top players: Junior Charlie Soule (70.65, two wins), senior James Love (70.81, two wins), senior Anthony Gillick (74.16).
Recent NCAA history: DU’s fourth consecutive appearance.
COLORADO STATE
Individual qualifier: Junior Derrick Whiting (72.28, one win), West Regional.
Recent NCAA history: CSU’s failure to be selected as a team snapped an 11-year run in the regionals for the Rams.
Tom Kensler can be reached at 303-820-6573 or tkensler@denverpost.com.
