Strong winds at Castle Pines Golf Club could not prevent three-time champions Jim Strickland and Warren Vickers of Scottsdale, Ariz., from firing a 7-under-par 65 to take the lead in the mid-am division of the Charlie Coe Invitational.
Strickland and Vickers posted a two-day total of 131, 13-under par. They are three strokes ahead of Jeff Knox of Augusta, Ga., and Jack Larkin of Atlanta and Texans Charles Williams and Chris Forbes. John Elway and Tom Hart of Denver are leading the local contingent — at 137.
In the senior-am division, five-time champions Mike Rice of Houston and Jerry Hudgins of Kingwood, Texas, are leading with a 9-under 135, two strokes ahead of five teams.
• The wind was also a major factor at the Colorado Section PGA’s Myran Craig Pro-Pro Championship at Murphy Creek Golf Course in Aurora, but the team of Caine Fitzgerald of Murphy Creek and Eric Bradley of Adams Mountain Country Club managed to come from behind for a one-stroke win over Geoff Keffer of Murphy Creek and Derek Osinski of Buffalo Run.
Bradley birdied the 225-yard 17th hole and Keffer bogeyed it, and Fitzgerald/Bradley finished at 12-under 132, one stroke ahead of Keffer/Osinski.
• The Colorado State men’s team finished last among the 30 teams competing in the stroke play portion of the NCAA Championships at Karsten Creek Golf Course in Stillwater, Okla., ending its stay in the tournament. The Rams shot a 73-over 937, with their 308 on Thursday a 14-stroke improvement over Wednesday. UCLA topped the leaderboard with an 8-over 872. Qualifying teams start match play today.
McCaffrey commits to Duke.
Valor Christian safety Max McCaffrey has committed to Duke, according to his high school coach, Brent Vieselmeyer.
McCaffrey, a son of former Broncos wide receiver Ed McCaffrey’s, also had an offer from Wake Forest.
He made 33 tackles last season and had four interceptions. McCaffrey blocked three field goals, recovered two fumbles and caused a fumble.
Also a wide receiver, he caught six passes last season for 149 yards, including one touchdown.
McCaffrey also played basketball for the Eagles last season, averaging 13.0 points per game. Ryan Casey, The Denver Post
Adams State men tops in Division II.
For the third consecutive year, the Adams State men’s cross country team was named the NCAA Division II program of the year by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.
The Grizzlies won a third straight NCAA cross country title and placed seventh at the NCAA indoor track and field championships and second at the NCAA outdoor championships. The Adams State women’s cross country team was runner-up for program of the year to Grand Valley State, and Western State was third.
Air Force selects Kazlausky.
Mike Kazlausky was promoted Thursday to head baseball coach at the Air Force Academy after serving a year as interim head coach.
Kazlausky signed a three-year contract. He retired Wednesday from the Air Force at the rank of major.
In 2011, the Falcons finished 19-36 overall and 4-20 in the Mountain West Conference. The 19 victories were the most for the Falcons since 2002. Irv Moss, The Denver Post
