CU’s Bjorlow Goes Low, Wins Invitational

Victor Bjorlow

Victor Bjorlow edges teammate John Paterson to capture Colorado Mines Bob Writz Invitational.

By David Plati

For the second time in three years, University of Colorado junior Victor Bjorlow won the Colorado Mines Bob Writz Invitational on March 25.

The 6-5 Spaniard shot the low score of the day—a 1-under par 71 for a 143 total on the 7,141-yard, par-72 Bear Creek Golf Course—to finish under par in a tournament for the fourth time in his career. He had 10 birdies and 18 pars for the event, opposite seven bogeys and a double. He had four birdies and 11 pars in Sunday’s final round.

CU freshman John Paterson finished as the runner-up with a 70-76—146 scorecard (2-over par). The Scot from St. Andrews was the first day leader with the 2-under 70, which was the best individual round this weekend of the 137 recorded. He had a solid weekend with five birdies and 24 pars against seven bogeys.

Bjorlow battled the wind to win.
Bjorlow battled the wind to win at Bear Creek.

A Rally to Win

Bjorlow trailed Paterson by one entering the final round, and was trailing by three after 25 holes.  He picked up a stroke when Paterson bogeyed No. 8 when he scored par, and then pulled even with six holes

to go after birdying Nos. 10 and 12.  Bjorlow then took the lead for good with birdies on Nos. 14 and 15, en route to shooting a 33 on the back nine.

“He was pretty exceptional out there,” assistant coach Patrick Grady said of Bjorlow. “If you know Bear Creek, you know there’s not a lot of opportunities to make birdies out here.  There are just two reachable par-5s, the greens have a lot of severe undulations and a few holes you have to lay up on your tee shots.  So you’re going to make bogeys out there, especially when it was super windy like it was this weekend.

“Victor put together a great round today, and John’s 70 yesterday was equally if not more impressive as he only had one practice round to survey the course,” he added.  “Bear Creek is difficult to learn how to play with that minimal experience, so he really played solid as well.  He just got cold with his putter on the back nine today.”

John Paterson
John Paterson

Taming Bear Creek

“It was great to get a win again, and having won this tournament two years ago, I felt I had a great opportunity to win here again on a very demanding golf course which I like,” Bjorlow said.  “I thought I had a very good game plan and adjusted well through the round to the conditions and my shot dispersion. Overall, it was a great weekend and I’ve very happy to win this event again.”

The Buffaloes as a team return to action this Thursday, as they will travel to Palo Alto, Calif., to participate in Stanford’s “The Goodwin.”  It’s the 50th annual edition of the event which will feature 26 competing schools with 18 holes of play each day (March 28-30).

 

 

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