Final Results

PUEBLO, Colo. - Colorado School of Mines pushed to its best finish of the season, moving up to second place behind top-10 individual performances by Lukas Taggart, Ethan Adam, and Jake Welch.

On a day when the field had to battle the wind, the Orediggers shot 290 to land at -7 overall, leaping over Colorado Mesa for second place and contending for the title until the closing holes behind #21 Colorado Christian.

Taggart was the individual runner-up, carding a 74 to settle at -6 after his torrid Monday saw him shoot 67 and 66. But it was the depth of the Mines scoring lineup that propelled them to their best tournament finish in more than two years as Adam surged into the top 10 with a one-under 70 to get to -1 for the tournament; his t6 finish marked the best of his career and his first top-10. Meanwhile, Welch notched his first top-10 of the season in a tie for tenth, shooting 74 to be even for the week.

Max Lange finished a steady tournament with three rounds of 72 to finish T16 (+3) and complete Mines' scoring on Tuesday. Theodore Reitter was Mines' non-scorer at 75 (T23, +5), but still ensured that all five members of the scoring lineup would finish in the top 25. 

Mines' four individuals also made some noise led by Connor Downey, who carded an even-par 71 to jump up to a career-best T18 finish. Owen Cornmesser shot 75 to settle at T27, and despite Carter Lolli's 77, the freshman ended up T18 for his best collegiate finish. Jonathan Trigg placed T55 after a final-round 79.

At one point near the turn, Mines was within a stroke of CCU (-15) before the Cougars pulled away in the closing holes led by individual medalist Adam Duncan at -15. Taggart held onto his second-place position from Monday, with CCU's Xavier Bighaus a stroke behind at -5 for the tournament. Colorado Mesa was the only other team under par (-4) with the host #8 CSU Pueblo finishing fourth at +5. 

NOTABLES
- Mines' second-place finish was their best since winning the Mile High Shootout to open the 2020-21 season.
- That tournament also marked the last time Mines put all five members of its lineup in the top 25.
- Adam's previous career best in 17 events was t14 at this year's Writz at Mile High. Taggart's best was T15 at the Otter Invitational to close the fall.

NEXT UP
Mines will co-host the Hot Dirt Desert Shootout in Goodyear, Ariz. on March 31-April 1.