SHERIDAN, Wyo. – The No. 19-ranked Colorado State University Pueblo men's golf team made a significant move up the leaderboard Monday, climbing four spots into eighth place following the second round of the Travis Roy Memorial at Powder Horn Golf Club.
After opening the tournament with a 24-over-par 312 on Sunday, the ThunderWolves responded with a much stronger showing on moving day, firing a 5-over-par 293 in Monday's second round.
The 19-shot improvement moved CSU Pueblo from 12th into eighth place heading into Tuesday's final round. Through 36 holes, the Pack sits at 29-over-par with a team score of 605.
Cole Kratz led the charge for the ThunderWolves on Monday, bouncing back from an opening-round 84 to fire an even-par 72 in the second round.
Kratz opened with a 2-under-par 34 on his first nine before coming home in 2-over 38 to post the Pack's low round of the day. His performance moved him up 17 spots into a tie for 50th at 12-over-par for the tournament.
Luke Shelton also delivered a strong bounce-back round, carding a 1-over-par 73 after opening with an 83 on Sunday.
Shelton played his opening nine at even-par 36 before closing with a 1-over 37. His second-round performance moved him up 14 spots into a tie for 50th alongside Kratz at 12-over-par through 36 holes.
Jake Johnston continued his steady start to the season with a 2-over-par 74. Johnston shot an even-par 36 on his opening nine before finishing with a 2-over 38 to move into a tie for 22nd individually.
Johnston enters the final round as CSU Pueblo's highest player on the leaderboard at 6-over-par for the tournament following rounds of 76 and 74.
Parker Shaw matched Johnston with a 2-over-par 74 to provide another counting score for the ThunderWolves.
Shaw improved by five shots from his opening-round 79 and moved up 15 spots on the individual leaderboard. He sits tied for 36th at 9-over-par after two rounds.
Paraic McGrath, who led CSU Pueblo following Sunday's opening round, posted a 5-over-par 77 Monday. McGrath got off to a strong start with a 1-under-par 35 on his opening nine before finishing with a 42 coming home.
McGrath sits tied for 27th at 7-over-par for the tournament after rounds of 74 and 77.
Jayden Padilla rounded out the ThunderWolves' six-player lineup with a 13-over-par 85. Padilla posted rounds of 41 and 44 and sits in 71st place at 27-over-par overall.
CSU Pueblo's second-round 293 was built from counting scores of 72 from Kratz, 73 from Shelton and matching 74s from Johnston and Shaw.
The ThunderWolves will look to continue their climb Tuesday when they return to Powder Horn Golf Club for the third and final round of the Travis Roy Memorial.
