acastro@mavs.coloradomesa.edu

With only one upperclassman on the team of 11 golfers, the Mavs still have some team building and learning to do after placing 5th at the CMU Invite this Monday and Tuesday at the Black Canyons Golf Course in Montrose.

Colorado School of Mines took its first RMAC title of the season in the event, followed by CSU-Pueblo and UCCS for third. Senior Brandon Bingaman tied for second with four other players with a score of 217.

“I was actually pretty disappointed,” Bingaman said. “I threw away a lot of strokes just doing very uncharismatic mistakes like miss a one-foot putt and hitting a 4-iron out of bounds. I gave a lot of strokes away off of things I almost never do so I feel as though I definitely let one get away. But no one can complain too much taking second in a tournament.”

As the only senior, Bingaman has an unspoken responsibility as a role model and leader to the six sophomores and four freshmen.

“It’s unusual being an upperclassman,” Bingaman said. “I know that I have to set the standard and that everyone is looking at me. So where I have been a hothead in the past, I’m controlling my emotions a little better. Its going to be a fun final year and I can see the talent – we just need to get out of our own way and play to our abilities.”

The women’s golf team almost finished fifth in the Grizzly Invitational last weekend in Alamosa. The ThunderWolves also came out on top in the women’s match, taking first place followed by Western New Mexico and Montana State – Billings.

Senior Michelle Stripp led the Mavs to a fifth-place finish with a score of 156. Both teams will head Lakewood next week for their second RMAC match of the season.