April 5, 2011

Final Wyoming Cowboy Classic Results in PDF Format

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - Junior Joakim Mikkelsen provided yet another career performance Tuesday, helping the Baylor men's golf team to a three-stroke victory at the Wyoming Cowboy Classic. It is Baylor's second victory of the season, marking its first season with multiple tournament victories since 2008-09.

A day after shooting a season-low 273 in the second round, Baylor shot a final-round 281 to finish at 4-under-par (282-273-281=836). Arizona finished second at 1-under-par 839, followed by Colorado State in third at 1-over-par 841.

Less than two weeks after establishing a 54-hole career low and placing third at the Border Olympics, Mikkelsen set 18-, 36- and 54-hole career lows for a second time Tuesday. The Drammen, Norway, native carded the lowest individual round by a Baylor golfer since 2007 (Colton Williams) with a final-round 65 to finish second overall - one stroke behind medalist Tarquin Macmanus of Arizona (8-under-par 202). Mikkelsen, whose 65 is the lowest third-round score since Colton Turnquist (65) in 2005, has posted six consecutive rounds of par or better, while shooting under-par in seven of his last 12 rounds overall.

"We entered Tuesday with a six-stroke lead and we made it interesting down the stretch, losing some shots here and there," head coach Greg Priest said.

"In years past, we've always peaked too early and we would fizzle towards the end of the season," Priest said. "With the last two years, we've gradually improved with each week. With this win, I think we are peaking at the right time."

The second-place showing is Mikkelsen's third top-five finish of the season and the sixth of his career, moving him into an eighth-place tie with Jamie McLeary on Baylor's career list. Mikkelsen is also tied with Kory Bowman for sixth in Baylor history with 11 career top-10 finishes.

Senior Payne Gniewek posted his best performance as a Bear in Arizona, tying for ninth overall at 1-under-par 209. Like Mikkelsen and Gniewek, sophomore Jerry Ruiz also carded his best Baylor 54-hole score, shooting a final-round 70 to tie for 12th at even-par 210. Ruiz bested his previous career low of 211 set earlier this spring at the Charleston Shootout. Teammates Cody Paladino and Ryan O'Rear tied for 38th overall at 7-over-par 217.

As a team, Baylor carded 54 birdies, while Mikkelsen finished third among the field's participants with 13 birdies. For the tournament, Mikkelsen shot 3-under on par-4s (3.92 score vs. par) and 4-under on par-5s (4.33 score vs. par). The Bears shot 9-under on par-5s for the three rounds; only Colorado State (11-under) shot better.

"Cody (Paladino) has been playing better and it's great to have Payne (Gniewek) and Joakim (Mikkelsen) back playing solid golf," Priest said. "Our last two tournaments have definitely boosted our confidence and now we need to continue towards our goal of a Big 12 title and making it back to the NCAA Championship."

Baylor will have one final regular-season tune-up before the Big 12 Championship in Hutchinson, Kan. The Bears will head 90 minutes south on Highway 6 for The Aggie Invitational April 16-17 at The Traditions Golf Club in Bryan.