Edwards Adds Four Players to CU’s Men’s Golf Program

The new University of Colorado Buffaloes come from Colorado, California, Denmark and Scotland

By David Plati

University of Colorado men’s golf coach Roy Edwards has inked four top amateurs to his program, with the four spanning the globe from California and Colorado to Europe, or just under 6,300 miles, a fourth of the way around the planet.

Oliver Jack from Kent Denver School in Englewood; Adam Matteson from San Diego; Kristoffer Max from Holte, Denmark; and John Paterson from St. Andrews, Scotland, all signed letters of intent this month to attend CU and will look to replace four seniors on the team who will graduate in May.

“We are very excited and fortunate to add these four student-athletes to our team in the class of 2018,” Edwards said.  “With hard work, competitiveness, self-belief, and a dedication to learning, we expect this group to be incredibly high-achieving.  They will be good additions to our six returning players next fall.”

Oliver Jack
Oliver Jack

Jack was a four-time, first-team 3A All-State performer, earning the honors for his freshman through senior years, finishing in top six in the state meet all four times.  As a junior, when he was the 3A golfer of the year, and senior, he helped Kent Denver win the state title both years (co-honors as a senior).  He claimed medalist honors in 2016, winning with a birdie on the first playoff hole after recording an even-par 72-72—144 score at Saddle Rock Golf Course in Aurora, and tied for second as a senior with a 2-under 70 in the rain-shortened event at Indian Peaks Golf Course in Lafayette.  He tied for second with a 6-over par 150 effort (75-75) as a sophomore and placed sixth (77-73—150, +6) as a freshman, both times when Kent finished second in the state.  As a junior in a high school meet, he shot Kent Denver’s record round of 63.

“Oliver was the top player we targeted in Colorado,” said Edwards. “He is a freakish talent that hits the ball farther than any player we have ever recruited (along with his classmate Kristoffer Max).  He comes from a long-line of great Colorado golfers who become Buffs.  He has a chance to be a very special player.”

Matteson-CU
Adam Matteson

Matteson hails from Scripps Ranch High School in northeast San Diego which produced this year’s PGA Tour Rookie of the Year, Xander Schauffele. A three-time first-team Western League performer, he has competed in the Southern California CIF Regional tourney as a freshman, sophomore and junior.  He led Scripps to a third place finish in the CIF SDS Championship this past spring, tying for eighth individually with a 2-under 72-70—142 scorecard; he placed 12th as a sophomore with a 70-71—141 (3-under) when Scripps took fifth.

Matteson’s top amateur results include wins in the 2017 Toyota Tour Cup at La Costa Resort (69-72-73—214) and last month’s Southern California Junior Amateur at Morongo Golf Course, which he won by four shots after turning in a 5-under effort (69-70—139).  His top AJGA finish came in the Enagic Junior Championship at Wilshire Country Club in Los Angeles, tying for fifth with a 73-69-74—216 (even par) scorecard (his 69 was the low score in the second round and he was tied with three others heading into the final round).

“Adam is a quiet, determined, and highly competitive young man,” Edwards said. “We saw him several times this summer and he has a competitive fire that burns hot on the inside. We are very impressed with his ability to play golf, not just hit great golf shots.  Adam has established himself as one of the best players in Southern California and we are very fortunate he has decided to attend CU.”

Kristoffer Max
Kristoffer Max

Max is from Holte, Denmark, which is about 10 miles north of Copenhagen, and plays out of Soelleroed Golf Club.  He is currently ranked as the No. 12 boys’ golfer in the U18 (Under-18) category by EuropeanGolfRankings.com (out of 2,117 players).  In seven tournaments this year, he has five top 13 finishes, including a pair of impressive wins: in the Skandia Junior Open (at the Salems Golf Club in Sweden), he shot a 69-73-68—210 (3-under), and in the European Boys Team Championship, he carded a 6-under 69-71—140 at the La Manga Golf Club in Spain.

He also reached the semifinals in match play of the French Boys Championships (Golf de Granville) after tying for fourth in the stroke play portion with a 68-70—138 (6-under) effort.  He was also ninth in the German Boys event (69-72—141) and 13th in the Danish International Amateur Championships (78-72-73-72—295).

“Physically, Kristoffer is very similar to his classmate, Oliver Jack,” Edwards explained.  “Kris hits the ball immense distance and had a huge summer results-wise, most notably being the medalist at the European Boys Team Championship in Spain. Kristoffer is known as a very hard worker determined to be an elite player.”

John Patterson
John Paterson

Paterson hails from St. Andrews (The New Club) on the east coast of Scotland, officially recognized as the “birthplace of golf” in the early 1800’s.  He’s currently ranked No. 28 in the EuropeanGolfRankings.com and is the reigning Scottish Boys Champion; he carded a 73-71-72-67—283 (1-under) last April, scoring two eagles on par-4 holes on the front nine in the final round that spurred him to a two-stroke victory.   Overall, he had eight top 10 finishes in events this golf season, including a third place finish in the British Universities Stirling International (75-71-73—219), and coming in second in the prestigious Scottish Boys Order or Merit.

A member of the Scotland Men’s National Team, he will help represent his country in four in events this February in South Africa; he also has represented his country in the European Boys Team Championships.

“John is one of the top prospects in the United Kingdom and Europe,” Edwards said. “He is taking a gap year this year to fully focus on his golf as part of the Scottish National Team. He has won some big-time tournaments and we expect him to be a great Buff.”

The University of Colorado Buffaloes recently completed the fall portion of their 2017-18 schedule, currently ranked No. 54 in the nation by Golfweek and No. 65 by GolfStat (299 schools compete in the sport in Division I).  The seniors graduating next spring include Kade Crossland, Spencer Painton, Yannik Paul and John Souza, the latter three being travel squad regulars throughout their CU careers.

 

 

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