PALM HARBOR, Fla. (Oct. 12, 2026) – Behind a strong second-round performance from Paraic McGrath, the Colorado State University Pueblo men's golf team completed the opening 36 holes of the 2026 Copperhead Championship on Monday, sitting tied for 15th place in a competitive 17-team field at the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club.

The ThunderWolves posted identical rounds of eight-over-par 292 to finish the opening day at 16-over-par 584, tied with Grand Valley State heading into Tuesday's final round.

The par-71, 7,209-yard Copperhead Course is best known as the annual host of the PGA TOUR's Valspar Championship, which has featured some of the world's top professional golfers, including past champions Jordan Spieth, Sam Burns and Paul Casey. The course is also renowned for its challenging closing stretch, famously known as the "Snake Pit," which consists of holes 16, 17 and 18.

McGrath provided the highlight of the day for the Pack, bouncing back from an opening-round five-over-par 75 with an impressive four-under-par 66 in the afternoon. His second-round performance was tied for the second-lowest round of the day among the field and helped him climb into a tie for 22nd place individually at one-over-par 141 through 36 holes.

The four-under-par round was also the lowest 18-hole score recorded by a ThunderWolves golfer on Monday, as McGrath enters the final round just three strokes outside the top 10.

Parker Shaw also turned in a strong opening-day performance for CSU Pueblo, beginning the tournament with a one-under-par 69 in the morning round. Shaw followed with a four-over-par 74 in the afternoon to finish the day at three-over-par 143, placing him in a tie for 36th individually.

Luke Shelton and Jake Johnston each contributed to the Pack's team score in both rounds, as the duo opened competition with matching four-over-par 74s.

Shelton followed his morning round with a six-over-par 76 in the afternoon to finish at 10-over-par 150, tied for 73rd place. Johnston carded a seven-over-par 77 in the second round to complete Monday's action at 11-over-par 151, sitting tied for 76th individually.

Rounding out the ThunderWolves' lineup was Cole Kratz, who improved by one stroke between rounds. Kratz opened with a seven-over-par 77 before posting a six-over-par 76 in the afternoon, finishing the opening day at 13-over-par 153 and tied for 81st place.

As a team, CSU Pueblo finished both rounds at eight-over-par 292, with McGrath's second-round 66 and Shaw's opening-round 69 providing the Pack's two under-par individual rounds of the day.

Florida Southern leads the team competition after posting consecutive rounds of 11-under-par 273 to finish the opening 36 holes at 22-under-par 546. Lincoln Memorial follows in second place at 16-under-par 552, while Barry sits third at 12-under-par 556.

Florida Southern's Jack VanderSchuur leads the individual competition at nine-under-par 131 after recording rounds of 66 and 65. VanderSchuur holds a five-stroke advantage over a group of golfers tied for second at four-under-par.

The ThunderWolves enter Tuesday's final round just one stroke behind Saint Leo and seven strokes behind 12th-place Valdosta State, with an opportunity to move up the team leaderboard over the final 18 holes.

Up Next

The ThunderWolves conclude competition at the 2026 Copperhead Championship on Tuesday, Oct. 13, with the third and final round at Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club.

All five CSU Pueblo golfers are scheduled to begin play at 8:15 a.m. Eastern Time (6:15 a.m. Mountain Time) in a shotgun start.

McGrath will tee off from hole 12B, followed by Shaw on 12A, Shelton on hole 13, Johnston on 14B and Kratz on 14A.