The University of Colorado men’s golf team is set to begin its spring season on Monday at the 26th annual “The Prestige” tournament, held at PGA West in La Quinta, California. The event was co-founded in 2000 by the late Mark Simpson, former CU head coach, and is known for featuring top academic programs in college golf. This year marks the Buffaloes’ 13th appearance in the competition.
The three-day tournament will be played on the PGA West Greg Norman Course, a par-71 layout measuring 7,185 yards. The field includes 24 teams, with 19 ranked among the nation’s top 102 and nine inside the top 50. The course sits approximately 40 feet below sea level.
Colorado enters the spring ranked No. 42 nationally and will field a lineup led by sophomore Parker Paxton, followed by senior Hunter Swanson, juniors Brandon Knight and Ty Holbrook, and graduate transfer Jackson Rivera. Sophomore Michael Fang will participate in a separate individual event at The Golf Club at Terra Lago.
The Buffaloes achieved a program record for lowest stroke average during the fall season at 70.39, surpassing their previous mark from 2024. Paxton led with an average of 68.80 over 15 rounds, followed closely by Swanson (69.73), Knight (69.93), and Holbrook (70.07). The team combined for 64 subpar rounds out of 108 overall.
“Everyone is ready to go for the spring,” said Colorado head coach Roy Edwards. “We have a motivated, competitive, and hard-working group that put in a great deal of effort during the offseason. This is an exceptional group of young men, and we’re very proud of how they represent the University of Colorado. When we combine smart decision-making with a free, confident mindset, we play our best golf. We have a highly competitive schedule this spring and expect to face many of the top teams in the country on some outstanding courses. Coach (Derek) Tolan and I can’t wait to get going.”
Last year at The Prestige, CU finished fifth with a total score of seven-under-par (845), highlighted by a final-round score of seven-under (277), which was among their best performances at this event.
“The PGA West Norman Course puts a premium on ball-striking and iron play so that also has been a big area of focus for the team in our preparations,” Edwards added.
This year’s tournament features co-hosts UC Davis (No.179) and Stanford (No.26), along with several other ranked programs such as Texas Tech (No.9), Kansas (No.47), Kansas State (No.68), Iowa State (No.86), Wake Forest (No.27), Clemson (No.32), Arkansas-Little Rock (No.41), Northwestern (No.44) and others from across collegiate golf.
Paxton is currently ranked No.151 individually despite finishing in the top-20 at all five fall events for CU.
Other notable players on CU’s roster include Swanson (#309 nationally), Holbrook (#341), Knight (#355) and freshman Tyler Long (#483). Rivera stands at #640 while Fang is #738; freshman Casey Kosney has seen limited action so far this season.
The Buffaloes will tee off alongside UC Davis and Northwestern on Monday afternoon to start their tournament campaign; Fang will compete earlier that day in his individual event paired with players from Northwestern and Stanford.
In program history at The Prestige, Colorado has secured four top-five finishes—its best being second place in 2001 when Joe Liley finished third individually (-9).
Following this event, CU plans to stay in southern California for Wyoming’s Desert Intercollegiate later this month instead of returning briefly to Boulder before traveling again.
Former Buffs are also active professionally: Justin Biwer recently placed second at Nipomo’s Central Coast Championship on the Asher Tour; Dylan McDermott posted two recent top-ten finishes including ninth place at Bakersfield Open; Tucker Clark competed but missed cut last week.
Jeremy Paul (‘17) continues playing on both Korn Ferry Tour—where he shot nine-under-par round recently—and select PGA Tour events; Yannik Paul (‘18) plays internationally on DP World Tour circuits.
