GCAA Am Series: Davis Bryant survives playoff

Fort Collins Country Club played host to the GCAA Amateur Series to kick off the week. Colorado, Colorado State, and the University of Denver were well represented in the all collegiate mixed field. Denver golfer Jackson Solem slept on the lead at five under after 36 holes. Colorado State teammates Davis Bryant and Gavin Hagstrom shared a tie for second with a pair of 69s for a 2-under, 138 total. The three shots that separated Bryant and Solem would prove important as the day came to a close. Solem started his day with an eagle in what looked to be a runaway win. His round hit the brakes hard when he double-bogeyed the par-3 5th. Carding an even-par 35, Solem slipped from his cat-bird seat with bogeys on Nos. 15 and 17 before scratching a birdie on the last to match Bryant at 4-under 206 for the championship. As for how Bryant got to have the lead on the 18th hole, his day began with birdies on Nos. 1 and 3 which bookmarked a bogey on the second. Tallying another bogey on the par-5 7th, Davis remained two back of Solem as the pair made the turn. With birdies on Nos. 11 and 15, Bryant recouped the two shot deficit while Solem slipped from the lead. Needing a birdie to force a playoff, Solem came through with a clutch three to continue the duos day. Splitting the first playoff hole with a pair of ho-hum pars, Solem let driver rip on the second playoff hole. Missing left, his luck ran out. His drive ended up stuck in a tree, forcing Solem to take a drop. Bryant took advantage of Solem’s misfortune as he made birdie to Solem’s bogey. The CSU Ram finished atop the leaderboard while teammates AJ Ott and Gavin Hagstrom both finished in the top five.