PREVIEW: Mines Golf Opens 2024 At Bear Creek
By: Tim Flynn
The Writz at Mile High [Live Leaderboard]
Monday-Tuesday Lakewood, Colo. - Bear Creek Golf Club - co-hosted by Colorado School of Mines and Colorado Christian
NEW SEASONS STARTS AT HOME FOR MINES
The college golf season starts anew this week for Colorado School of Mines, and they won't have to go far as they co-host The Writz at Mile High at Bear Creek Golf Club in Lakewood. The Writz at Mile High, named in honor of longtime Mines Golf coach Bob Writz, will be a 54-hole event with two rounds on Monday and the final round Tuesday. Twosomes will tee off of holes 1 and 10 on Monday starting at 8:30 a.m. MT; the Orediggers will be paired up with Colorado Mesa on Monday.
THE FIELD
The Writz at Mile High field is topped by defending national champion Colorado Christian, the preseason #1 team in the Bushnell/Golfweek D-II Coaches' Poll. #20 CSU Pueblo is the other ranked team competing,w hile three other teams - UT Permian Basin, Colorado Mesa, and Mines - received votes in the poll. RMAC foe South Dakota Mines and Georgia's Valdosta State round out the field.
THE FORECAST
It'll be typical late summer Front Range weather this week with highs in the mid-80s and a chance of a passing afternoon storm both days of the tournament. Winds can always be a factor at Bear Creek, especially on the more elevated back-nine holes.
THE COURSE
Bear Creek is one of Colorado's most challenging layouts, playing 7,276 yards at par 72. The Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay design opened in 1985 and incorporates the natural beauty and wildlife of the area. Undulating greens and sloping fairways demand accurate shotmaking, with several holes providing long hitters with risk-reward decisions.
WHO'S BACK AND WHO'S NEW
Mines returns a strong core led by 2024 all-RMAC selections Lukas Taggart and Max Lange, along with veterans including Carter Lolli, Theodore Reitter, Lucas Schulte, Zach Shallat, and Charlie Tran. There are two new faces on the roster this year in Colt Tenpenny and Eric Casademont Vinyoles; Tenpenny, a junior, transfers from CSU Pueblo where he was a 2024 First-Team All-RMAC honoree, while Casademont Vinyoles is a freshman from Spain with a depth of experience on the European junior amateur circuit, ranking inside the top 1000 on the World Amateur Golf Ranking and notching five top-25 finishes in Europe in 2024.
TAGGART PLAYS IN U.S. AMATEUR
Junior Lukas Taggart had an eventful summer, qualifying for the 124th U.S. Amateur at Hazeltine in Minnesota. Taggart - with teammate Max Lange on his bag - qualified as co-medalist of the regional tournament at Columbine Country Club in Colorado on July 19, then played in the U.S. Amateur on Aug. 12-13 but missed the cut.
MINES PROJECTED LINEUP
1. Lukas Taggart (Jr.)
Two-time First-Team All-RMAC selection … Led Mines with a 71.72 average last year … Finished 2023-24 ranked #69 in D-II.
2. Colt Tenpenny (Jr.)
CSU Pueblo transfer earned 2024 First-Team All-RMAC honors … Averaged 72.3 in 2023-24.
3. Lucas Schulte (Sr.)
Played in seven tournaments in 2023-24, averaging 75.63 … Had a career-best T27 finish twice.
4. Eric Casademont Vinyoles (Fr.)
Making collegiate debut … Native of Sant Cugat del Valles, Spain ranks #965 on the WAGR.
5. Carter Lolli (Jr.)
Appeared in seven tournaments as a sophomore … Averaged 75.55 with a top finish of T27 at The Writz.
Ind. Theodore Reitter (Sr.)
Senior played in six tournaments last year … Averaged 74.28 … Finished T11 at the 2023 Writz at Mile High and T9 in 2022.
Ind. Max Lange (Jr.)
2024 Second-Team All-RMAC … Averaged 72.55 as a sophomore … Finished fourth at the 2023 Writz at Mile High.
Ind. Charlie Tran (So.)
Appeared in five tournaments as a freshman … Career best finish was T27 in The Writz at Mile High in 2023.
Latest Mines Athletics News
- Walker Named RMAC Player of the WeekColorado School of Mines running back Landon Walker is the RMAC Offensive Player of the Week for the first time in his career.
- Mines Moves Up One Spot In PollsColorado School of Mines advanced one spot in each of the major national polls this moving, improving to #4 in the AFCA and #5 in the D2football.com top 25s.
- McDermott’s Third Career Hat Trick Fuels 5-0 Win Over West Texas A&MGOLDEN, Colo. – Looking to start off the season with their fourth consecutive win for the second season in a row, the #6 Colorado School of Mines women's soccer team was back in action Sunday against West Texas A&M at Stermole Stadum. In a match that was all Orediggers (4-0-0) from the opening whistle, three different players scored headlined by the third hat trick in as many season by Reese McDermott while six different players recorded a point by way of a goal or an assist as they easily handled the Lady Buffs (2-1-0) 5-0.
- Mines Athletics Announces Homecoming Tailgate and Silent AuctionAs part of the Mines@150 celebration taking place throughout the 2024 calendar year, Mines Athletics is proud to announce a new tailgating event that will be held prior to the Homecoming football game on September 28.
- Walker's 4-TD Day Leads #5/6 Mines At WashburnTOPEKA, Kan. - #5/6 Colorado School of Mines escaped Washburn with a 31-28 win, improving to 2-0 as Landon Walker's four-touchdown day led a down-to-the-wire win by the Orediggers.
- Rodriguez Scores Twice To Lead Mines Past Ninth-Ranked Point LomaGOLDEN, Colo. – Still in search of their first win of 2024, the Colorado School of Mines men's soccer team was back in action Saturday night under the lights at Stermole Stadium against their fourth consecutive opponent from the state of California, ninth-ranked Point Loma. After the two teams engaged in a scoreless battle over the first 45 minutes, they traded goals inside a two-minute span to open the second half before the Orediggers (1-3-0) put up an early contender for play of the year as Gabriel Rodriguez scored his second goal of the night to clinch the win over the Sea Lions (1-1-2) with a 2-1 result.
