Three area men’s golf teams started play in NCAA Regionals on Thursday, with Colorado State posting the best start — 11th place at the East Regional in Chattanooga, Tenn. Colorado is tied for 12th at the Central Regional in Columbus, Ohio, and Denver is 25th at the West Regional in Bremerton, Wash. The top 10 teams advance from each.
Sophomore Riley Arp’s 3-under-par 68 led the way for CSU and put him in a tie for 15th, three shots behind two co-leaders. The Rams shot a 2-under 282. Georgia leads at 265.
CU’s Derek Tolan is tied for 17th with a 2-over 73, four shots behind the leader, Brendan Gielow of Wake Forest. Wake leads the team standings with a 6-over 290. Colorado shot 301.
DU shot a 21-over 309, 20 shots behind leader Oregon. The Ducks’ Joey Benedetti has the lead at 3-under 69. Scott Tashie had the best round in a disappointing day for the Pioneers with a 75 that has him in a tie for 49th.
Putnina leaves CU for Europe.
Forward Aija Putnina is forgoing her final two years of eligibility at the University of Colorado to play professionally in Europe.
Putnina said she wants to be closer to her home and family in her native Riga, Latvia. In June, she will play for the Latvian national team in Madrid in its quest to qualify for the Beijing Olympics.
Putnina averaged 5.6 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in her two seasons with the Buffs.
She spent two years at Regis Jesuit High School in Aurora, but as an exchange student could play only one year of varsity basketball.
She averaged 12 points and seven boards while helping the Raiders to a second-place finish at the 2006 Class 4A state tournament.
“Aija spent four years as a student-athlete in the state of Colorado,” Buffs coach Kathy McConnell-Miller said. “She’s given everything to our program and has been a great addition. We respect her wishes to be close to her family and experience a professional career that we know she is anxious to begin.”
Mountain Lions move up.
The University of Colorado-Colorado Springs men’s golf team shot the third-best round of the day and moved up eight spots into a tie for fourth place at the Division II National Championship in Houston.
The Mountain Lions shot a 7-over 567. Georgia College & State University leads at 559.
UCCS’ Eric Winder and Todd Napikoski are tied for 13th with even-par 140s, three shots behind two co-leaders.
Rams leading MWC track championships.
Emily Pearson and Katie Lloyd finished 2-3 in the women’s heptathlon to lead Colorado State into first place at the Mountain West Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Fort Worth, Texas. The Rams men also are atop the standings.
Pearson posted 5,605 points, 207 points better than Lloyd and 36 points behind the winner, Sandy Fortner of New Mexico.
