CHAMPS: Cowboys win Wyoming Desert Match Play

* University of Wyoming Athletics media relations release

PALM DESERT, Calif., -- With its third consecutive match-play win of the weekend, the Wyoming Cowboys brought home the championship trophy from their own Wyoming Desert Match Play event on Saturday, defeating Boise State 3-2-1 in the title match. 

Wyoming’s three wins in Saturday’s final match came from: Kirby Coe-Kirkham, who won his match 3&2; Cade McLaughlin, with a 3&2 victory; and Jimmy Dales, who finished 2 Up in his match. Cowboy Bryce Waters also notched UW’s one tie in his individual match. Dales, playing in the final pairing of the day, closed out the team victory with a birdie on the 18th hole on Saturday to give the Cowboys the win.

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The Pokes entered the weekend’s tournament as the #5 seed. Wyoming’s win over #2 seed Boise State followed up two wins on Friday over #4 seed Denver, defeating the Pioneers on a tiebreaker in the quarterfinals after tying DU 3-3-0, and over #1 seed San Francisco (4-2-0) in the semifinals.

“I’m not only proud of the guys start to the spring season, getting this big win, but I’m proud of the inaugural match-play event we hosted this weekend,” said Joe Jensen UW Director of Golf. “We had eight really good programs in the field, and we were able to get a close win over Denver, and then two upset wins over San Francisco and Boise State. All-in-all a really great event.

“I’m particularly proud of the guys for their performance on Saturday. Our guys were down in most if not all of the matches at different points of the day, and they fought back on the back nine and played a complete round. Both San Francisco and Boise State are likely NCAA Tournament teams.

“I want to thank the Classic Club for hosting us for the event, and I hope all the players and coaches enjoyed the experience playing in this unique match-play event.”

The Wyoming Desert Match Play was played on the Classic Club in Palm Desert, Calif. The course measured 7,305 yards.

Results from Saturday’s final round of match-play competition are as follows:

Saturday’s Final Round Schedule

Seventh-Place Match: #7 Seed Wichita State won 5-0-1 over #8 Seed Air Force

Fifth-Place Match: #3 Seed Colorado won 3-1-2 over #4 Seed Denver

Third-Place Match: #1 Seed San Francisco won 4-2-0 over #6 Seed UTEP

Championship Match: #5 Seed Wyoming won 3-2-1 over #2 Seed Boise State

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