FORT COLLINS, Colo. — BYU men’s golfer Lincoln Markham (69-70-75-214) tied for 15th at 4-over par at the Ram Masters Invitational at Fort Collins Country Club on Friday.
Markham recorded his first collegiate top-25 finish. The freshman competed in the tournament as an individual, while the Cougars did not compete as a team.
“I am happy with the way I drove it this week,” Markham said. “It is a pretty tight tree-lined course. I am also happy with my nerves. I didn’t know what to anticipate with it being my first college event, and it just felt like any other tournament round.”
Markham recently returned from a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Spokane, Washington. The tournament marked his first collegiate competition.
“It was great for my first start to be so near the top of the leaderboard until a couple mistakes late on my final nine holes,” Markham said. “It shows that I have what it takes to be a college golfer.”
In the opening round, Markham fired a 1-under 69. After a birdie on the opening hole, the Utah native made bogeys on Nos. 5 and 9 and a birdie on No. 7 to make the turn at even par. He added back-to-back birdies on Nos. 12 and 13 before a bogey on the final hole to finish 1-under par.
Markham finished the second round at even par, making three birdies and three bogeys. He recorded birdies on the second and sixth holes, with bogeys on Nos. 4 and 8 on the front nine before offsetting a birdie on No. 15 with a bogey on No. 17.
The freshman shot a 5-over 75 in the final round. He opened with bogeys on Nos. 2, 3 and 4 before carding an eagle on the sixth. He followed with birdies on Nos. 7 and 8 to go four under through three holes before a bogey on No. 9 to make the turn at even par.
A triple bogey on No. 13 moved him 3 over. Markham finished the round at 5-over par after a birdie on No. 14, a double bogey on No. 15 and a bogey on No. 16.
“I had higher expectations for this week and it wasn’t exactly the result I was looking for, but there are a lot of positives and ways to improve,” Markham said.
Markham will look to build on his top-25 finish as he continues his first season with the Cougars.