UW's Maier has successful summer

UW junior Gabe Maier

by UW Media Relations

It has been a good two-week stretch for University of Wyoming golfer Gabe Maier. The junior-to-be not only won the Wyoming State Golf Amateur two weeks ago, he was also the best amateur at last weekend’s Colorado Open.

In the Colorado Open, which was played at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club in Denver, Maier was the low amateur in a field of 156 professionals and amateurs. He finished the open with a four-round scorecard of 281 (-3), which put him in a tie for 28th place. In the tournament, Maier finished above 30 other amateur golfers.

“We are really happy about the things that Gabe has done this summer,” said UW director of golf Joe Jensen. “The Colorado Open is the premier Colorado tournament of the year and is viewed as one of the best state opens in the country. Gabe played great and beat some very good pros, as well as some of the best college golfers from this region including Colorado, Colorado State and Denver. Gabe even beat Steve Ziegler, an All-American from Stanford, who was one of the members of the elite Palmer Cup team (college’s version of the Ryder Cup), whom I had a chance to work with this summer.”

At the Wyoming State Golf Amateur Championship, which was played at Bell Nob Golf Club in Gillette from July 17-19, Maier used a late charge to win the championship. He entered the final round of the tournament four strokes off of the lead. However, Maier played the final 11 holes of the tournament at five-under par to win the championship by two strokes. On the weekend, he shot rounds of 73 (+1), 71 (-1) and 68 (-4) to finish with a three-round score of 212 (-4). Fellow Cowboy Clinton Boutelle, who will be a redshirt freshman in the fall, finished second and junior Michael May finished third.

In other golf news, Boutelle qualified for the U.S. Amateur on Monday by winning a qualifier tournament at Three Crowns Golf Club in Casper. He shot a 36-hole total of 139 (-5) and won a two-hole playoff over a player from the University of Arkansas.

Earlier this summer May qualified for the National Pub Links, which was held in Norman, Okla., by winning a June qualifier in Cody.

“It was great to see three of our guys in the top-three spots in the our home state’s best amateur tournament,” added Jensen. “When we finished last year, our team placed an emphasis on playing well in everything they competed in this summer and I am happy we have done that.
“It’s great to have Gabe playing as well as he is and to have a Wyoming representative in both the U.S. Amateur and the National Pub Links. It is also great to see Clinton, who still hasn’t played in a college tournament, playing so well. Everyone feels good and we are excited about the upcoming season.”

UW track signs three athletes

The University of Wyoming track and field team announced the signing three student-athletes to a National Letter of Intent to compete in the upcoming 2009-10 season.

The Cowboys added one thrower, Mark Sparks from Aurora, Colo., while the jump crew got one stronger as well with Lenyn Leonce from St. Lucia. The Cowgirl jumpers added one with Erin Urbanoski from Craig, Colo.

Sparks comes to the ‘Pokes after a very successful 2009 season where he ended the year as the 5A state champion in both the shot put and discus throw. He also had his personal bests in both the shot put (59-feet, 1/2 inch) the discus (192-8), which is good for fifth all-time in Colorado history. Sparks is currently ranked 12th in the nation among high school discus throwers.

“Mark is a very fast and explosive athlete with a strong technical base,” said head throws coach Paul Barrett. “He has tremendous drive and determination that will allow him to excel at a high level in the collegiate ranks.

“With his athletic ability and speed, I believe Mark will be able to pick up the hammer and weight throw events quickly and be able to help in these events as well as the shot put and discus throw at the conference meet right away as a freshman. Obviously we are thrilled to sign such an elite level athlete with tremendous potential to bolster our throwing squad."

Leonce joins an already stacked jumping crew that is led by junior Jeremiah James, a fellow St. Mary’s College and St. Lucia native. Leonce was the 2007 Carifta 17 and under champion, as well as the 2009 Carifta 20 and under champion in the long jump. His personal best in the event is 24-3 which ranks seventh on UW’s all-time list.

“I believe Lenyn will come right in and be an instant contributor at a conference and regional level,” said head jump coach Quincy Howe. “Once he adjusts to some inevitable changes, he will also eventually be on the national stage as well.”

Urbanoski will head a very young Cowgirl jump crew that saw its only member graduate last season. She is a three-time 4A state champion in the long jump and had the best long jump of all girls in every division at the state meet. Her personal best of 19-3 ranks ninth on the UW all-time list, as well as having a very solid time in the 100-meter dash of 12.46 seconds.

“Erin is the type of quality student athlete that our jumping program is trying to attract,” said Howe. “Being a three-time state champion shows that Erin has a winning attitude and its precisely the attitude we try to foster here in the Gem City.”