College golf returns for Colorado-based schools; 9 college tournaments scheduled in the Centennial State during fall season
By Gary Baines
It’s not even officially autumn, but the “fall” golf season for Colorado-based schools starts on Monday (Sept. 7) as the Air Force Academy men and the University of Northern Colorado women tee it up first. And college tournaments played in the state come fast and furious in the next month.
Specifically, nine college events will be held in the Centennial State between today and Oct. 6 — five on the women’s side and four on the men’s. Seven of the tournaments are NCAA Division I affairs, with two DII events planned.
Here’s the rundown:
MEN
— Ram Masters Invitational, Sept. 10-11, Fort Collins CC. Colorado schools competing: Host Colorado State, Northern Colorado, Denver.
— Gene Miranda Falcon Invitational, Sept. 19-21, Eisenhower Golf Club at Air Force Academy. Team event at Blue Course, individual event at Silver Course. Colorado schools competing: Host Air Force, Colorado, Northern Colorado, Denver.
— Mark Simpson Colorado Invitational, Sept. 29-30, Boulder CC. Colorado schools competing: Host Colorado, Colorado State, Northern Colorado, Denver, Air Force.
— San Juan Intercollegiate (NCAA Div. II), Sept. 21-22, Bridges Golf and Country Club, Montrose . Colorado schools competing: Colorado Christian, Colorado School of Mines, CSU Pueblo, Colorado Mesa, Fort Lewis.
WOMEN
— UNC Bear Brawl, Sept. 7-8, Greeley CC. Colorado school competing: Host Northern Colorado.
— Ptarmigan Ram Classic, Sept. 21-22, Ptarmigan CC in Fort Collins. Colorado schools competing: Host Colorado State, Northern Colorado.
— Golfweek Red Sky Classic, Sept. 21-23, Red Sky Golf Club’s Fazio Course, Wolcott. Colorado schools competing: Colorado, Denver.
— Ron Moore Intercollegiate, Oct. 2-4, University of Denver Golf Club at Highlands Ranch. Colorado schools competing: Host Denver, Colorado, Colorado State, Northern Colorado.
— Nick Turner Invitational (NCAA Div. II), Oct. 5-6, Hillcrest Golf Club, Durango. Colorado schools competing: Colorado Mesa, Fort Lewis.
Notable: Going into the new season, lifelong Coloradan and former University of Colorado golfer Hunter Swanson joins the CU coaching staff part time as an assistant coach while pursuing his pro career. … Former Colorado Christian University standout Faith Kilgore becomes head coach of the women’s team at CCU. Other first-year head coaches of their respective programs include Coloradan Jaylee Tait (MSU Denver women), Todd Henderson (Fort Lewis women) and Jolene Carrica (Adams State women). … CSU Pueblo has consolidated the head coaching positions for the men’s and women’s programs into a single job as director of golf. Josh Koschke, the men’s golf head coach at CSU Pueblo since 2009, moves into that position. … Randy Stueve had the interim tag removed from his title as he becomes head coach of the Durango-based Fort Lewis men’s golf team. Former CGA Match Play runner-up Jordan Jennings becomes a volunteer assistant coach at Fort Lewis, where he played. … Player-wise, Brandon Knight is a senior on the CU men’s team after advancing to the quarterfinals of the 2026 U.S. Amateur, marking the first time a Buff has made it that far in the world’s top amateur event. … Reigning CGA Match Play champion Traejan Andrews transfers from Fort Lewis to Eastern Washington. … Both CU teams conclude the fall portion of the schedule in Hawaii on the same dates, Oct. 26-28 — the men at the Kaanapali Classic, and the women at the Nanea Invitational in Kailua Kona. Also in Hawaii during the fall are the UNC and Air Force Academy men, who are competing at the Pearl at Kalauao Invitational Nov. 4-5 on Oahu. … The Colorado State men and women are set for their first season in the Pac-12 after leaving the Mountain West Conference, which still features the Air Force Academy men. … Air Force will face fellow military academies Army and Navy in the fourth annual Commonder-in-Chief’s Cup, set for Oct. 13-14 at historic Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania. Oakmont has hosted a record 10 U.S. Opens.
Here are some of the scheduling highlights for the Colorado-based college golf programs:
CU MEN
Season Opener: Vuori Invitational Sept. 14-15 in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.
Tournaments in Colorado:
Gene Miranda Falcon Invitational, Sept. 19-21, Eisenhower Golf Club at Air Force Academy.
Mark Simpson Colorado Invitational, Sept. 29-30, Boulder CC.
Conference Tournament: Big 12, April 26-28 in Columbus, Texas.
CU WOMEN
Season Opener: Leadership and Golf Invitational, Sept. 14-15, University Place, Wash.
Tournaments in Colorado:
Golfweek Red Sky Classic, Sept. 21-23, Red Sky Golf Club’s Fazio Course, Wolcott.
Ron Moore Intercollegiate, Oct. 2-4, University of Denver Golf Club at Highlands Ranch.
Conference Tournament: Big 12, April 21-23 in Las Vegas, Nev.
CSU MEN
Season Opener: Ram Masters Invitational, Sept. 10-11, Fort Collins CC.
Tournaments in Colorado:
Ram Masters Invitational, Sept. 10-11, Fort Collins CC.
Mark Simpson Colorado Invitational, Sept. 29-30, Boulder CC.
Conference Tournament: Pac-12, April 30-May 2, Pullman, Wash.
CSU WOMEN
Season Opener: Badger Invitational, Sept. 13-15 in Madison, Wis.
Tournaments in Colorado:
Ben Connell Ptarmigan Ram Classic, Sept. 21-22, Ptarmigan CC in Fort Collins.
Ron Moore Intercollegiate, Oct. 2-4, University of Denver Golf Club at Highlands Ranch.
Conference Tournament: Pac 12, April 25-27, Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.
UNC MEN
Season Opener: Ram Masters Invitational, Sept. 10-11, Fort Collins CC.
Tournaments in Colorado:
Ram Masters Invitational, Sept. 10-11, Fort Collins CC.
Gene Miranda Falcon Invitational, Sept. 19-21, Eisenhower Golf Club at Air Force Academy.
Mark Simpson Colorado Invitational, Sept. 29-30, Boulder CC.
Conference Tournament: Big Sky, date TBD, site TBD.
UNC WOMEN
Season Opener: UNC Bear Brawl, Sept. 7-8, Greeley CC
Tournaments in Colorado:
UNC Bear Brawl, Sept. 7-8, Greeley CC
Ptarmigan Ram Classic, Sept. 21-22, Ptarmigan CC in Fort Collins
Ron Moore Intercollegiate, Oct. 2-4, University of Denver Golf Club at Highlands Ranch
Conference Tournament: Big Sky, April 21-23, Sun City West, Ariz.
DU MEN
Season Opener: Ram Masters Invitational, Sept. 10-11, Fort Collins CC.
Tournaments in Colorado:
Ram Masters Invitational, Sept. 10-11, Fort Collins CC.
Gene Miranda Falcon Invitational, Sept. 19-21, Eisenhower Golf Club at Air Force Academy.
Mark Simpson Colorado Invitational, Sept. 29-30, Boulder CC.
Conference Tournament: West Coast, April 30-May 2, North Plains, Ore., concluding with match play semifinals and finals.
DU WOMEN
Season Opener: Lady Redbird Invitational, Sept. 13-14, Bloomington, Ill.
Tournaments in Colorado:
Golfweek Red Sky Classic, Sept. 21-23, Red Sky Golf Club’s Fazio Course, Wolcott.
Ron Moore Intercollegiate, Oct. 2-4, University of Denver Golf Club at Highlands Ranch.
Conference Tournament: West Coast, April 23-25, Portland, Ore.
AIR FORCE ACADEMY MEN
Season Opener: Folds of Honor Collegiate, Sept. 7-9, Grand Haven, Mich.
Tournaments in Colorado:
Gene Miranda Falcon Invitational, Sept. 19-21, Eisenhower Golf Club at Air Force Academy.
Mark Simpson Colorado Invitational, Sept. 29-30, Boulder CC.
Conference Tournament: Mountain West, April 27-29, Palm Desert, Calif.
NCAA DIVISION II TOURNAMENTS IN COLORADO
San Juan Intercollegiate (Men), Sept. 21-22, Bridges Golf and Country Club, Montrose. Colorado teams competing: Colorado Christian, Colorado School of Mines, CSU Pueblo, Colorado Mesa, Fort Lewis.
Nick Turner Invitational (Women), Oct. 5-6, Hillcrest Golf Club, Durango. Colorado teams competing: Colorado Mesa, Colorado Christian, Fort Lewis.
About the Writer: Gary Baines has covered golf in Colorado continuously since 1983. He was a sports writer at the Daily Camera newspaper in Boulder, then the sports editor there, and has written regularly for ColoradoGolf.org since 2009. The University of Colorado Evans Scholar alum was inducted into the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame in 2022. He owns and operates ColoradoGolfJournal.com