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College History: Derek finished third in the most rounds played (151) at Colorado, and was 13th in career stroke average (74.19).  He tied for second in both the most top 10 finishes (18) and top 20 efforts (26) in school history (he was 11th with five top five performances).   He has had 89.8 percent of his career rounds count toward team scoring (132 of 147; does not include the 2008 NCAA Finals when he played solo), a figure which ranked fifth in school history.  He became just the fifth CU player to have qualified to play in four NCAA Championships, joining Rick Cramer (1979-82), Bob Kalinowski (1991-94), Matt Zions (1999-2002) and Kane Webber (2000-04).

2008-09 (Sr.): Derek was selected as the Male Career Athletic Achievement Award winner for all sports, and the co-Male Athlete of the Year (with teammate Patrick Grady) at the school’s annual CUSPY celebration (CU Sports Performers of the Year).  An honorable mention All-American by Golfweek (one of 20) and the GCAA (one of 33); both selected three 10-man squads for first-, second- and third-team status.  He also earned PING All-Central Region honors, All-Big 12 honors and All-Big 12 Tournament Team accolades.  He thrice earned CU Athlete of the Week honors on the season.  He finished as the No. 43 ranked player in the nation by both GolfStat and Golfweek.  In the spring, he had four top 20 finishes, highlighted by a tie for second in the Western Intercollegiate (213, +3), a third place finish in CU’s Stevinson Ranch Invitational (214, -2) and seventh in the Big 12 Championships (288, +8), the latter his best performance out of four tries in the league meet (he was tied for the lead at the midway point after opening with a 71-68—139 effort).  He ended the fall season ranked as the No. 18 player in the nation by GolfStat and the No. 30 man by Golfweek (holds rankings of 23 and 42, respectively, in the same as of late April).  He became the 10th player in school history to win two career tournaments, claiming both in the fall semester, and in doing so set a school record for the lowest stroke average (71.00) for the fall in CU annals.  All 18 of his rounds were between 67 and 74, with nine of the subpar variety and three others at par.  He opened up his senior year by earning co-medalist honors in San Francisco’s Olympic Club Intercollegiate (74-69-70—213, E), and three weeks later again snared co-medalist at New Mexico’s Tucker Invitational (71-68-72—211, -5).  In-between, he placed second in DU’s Ron Moore Invitational at Green Valley Ranch in Denver, posting his career best for the most under par in a tournament (205, -11); he finished one shot out of the lead, as teammate Patrick Grady won the event.   He wrapped up the fall with three other top 20 finishes (an 11th, 12th and 13th), and averaged 72.67 in six first rounds, but on the strength of five rounds in the 60s, averaged 69.2 in the second round; he owned a 71.17 figure for the final round.  In the national stats, he placed in the top 35 in nine categories: eagles (4th, 9); non-sand up and downs (8th, .703), total short game (18th, .663), par 5 scoring (23rd, 4.56), adjusted stroke average in relation to par (26th, -0.84), birdies (26th, 59), greens in regulation within 15 feet (27th, .380), ham & egg (28th, 12/3) and putting in relation to par (31st, -0.28).  Overall he hit 67.9 percent of his fairways and 70.4 of his greens.  He won the fall Coaches Cup, an award that honors the player with the lowest adjusted stroke average in qualifying rounds for team tournaments.

2007-08 (Jr.): Derek earned PING All-Central Region honors and finished up as the No. 216 ranked player in the nation by Golfweek.  Finished third on the team in stroke average (74.90, but owned the top figure for the spring at 73.82 prior to the NCAA Championship Finals; he eventually was third in the spring as well (74.36).  He posted five top 20 and three top 10 finishes in the spring, capped by a seventh place finish in the NCAA Central Regional which earned him one of two individual berths into the NCAA Championship Finals.  In the Finals at Purdue, he posted a 74-77-84—235 scorecard, which had him tied for 10th after the first round but he eventually missed the third round cut (in part to trying to force things to make something happen).   His top spring finish was a tie for sixth in the Western Intercollegiate (220, +10), and a tie for seventh at the Louisiana Classics (217, +1) helped CU to the team title.   He placed 13th in CU’s own Stevinson Ranch Invitational (221, +5), and he tied for 13th in Ohio State’s Kepler Intercollegiate (226, +13), one of three Buffs in the top 13 as CU also won that meet.  He was hampered a bit at the Big 12 Championships after suffering a deep cut on his right hand, but managed to tie for 33rd (304, +16).  He posted his collegiate best round of 66 the final day of The Maxwell, which leaped him into a tie for 27th; he had shot a 79 in the second round, thus his 13-stroke improvement between rounds tied him for 12th largest in school history.  He led the team in final round average (73.33), tied for the team lead in top 10 finishes (4), and was second in top 20 efforts (6), subpar rounds (6), rounds in the 60s (4) and rounds counting toward team scoring (31 of 37, or 83.8 percent).  In the fall, he tied for third on the team in stroke average with a 75.80 figure, as he had kind of a topsy-turvy semester; on three occasions, one bad round did him in, costing his two top 20 finishes.  He had the best 54-hole score on the team with a 215 (-1) to tie for seventh in the New Mexico Tucker Invitational, topped by a four-under par 68 in the first round, his best collegiate score at the time.

2006-07 (Soph.): Derek finished fourth on the team in stroke average overall (75.36) as well in the spring (75.05).  His 74.67 first round average for the year was the second best on the team, as were his five subpar rounds and three top 10 finishes; he led the team in rounds counting toward team scoring with a percentage of 88.9 (32 of 36, including 20 of 21 for the spring).  He matched his career best finish when he placed sixth in CU’s Stevinson Ranch Invitational (220, +4), and had three other top 20 finishes on the season, two in the fall: he tied for sixth in the season-opening Rich Harvest Farms Intercollegiate (225, +9), to go with an eighth place finish the next month when the Buffs returned to Illinois for the Windon Memorial Classic (221, +8).  He also shared 11th place in March’s Louisiana Classics (214, -2), the third best 54 hole score by a Buffalo over the course of the season.  He struggled a bit toward the end of the season, tying for 53rd at the Big 12 Championships and for 100th at the NCAA Central Regional.  He was one of two Buffs to play in all five fall tournaments, as he posted a 75.80 stroke average (second best among those with 12 or more rounds).  His best fall round was an opening 2-under 70 at the New Mexico Tucker Invitational, but he had some struggles in CU’s last two autumn meets, recording an 80-plus score in the second round of each event that dropped him in the standings, otherwise he would have had two other top 25 efforts.  He still ranked 32nd nationally in non-sand up and downs (65.3) and in total short game (63.5).

2005-06 (Fr.-RS): Derek set a school record for a freshman with five top 10 finishes, easily besting the old mark or three that three others had shared.  He finished second on the team in stroke average with a 74.80 figure, the fifth best number by a freshman in the Big 12 which included a CU runner-up final round best of 74.55.  He was second on the team to graduating senior Edward McGlasson in several other categories, including subpar rounds (7), spring scoring average (75.04) and rounds counting toward team scoring (32 of 35, or 91.4 percent).  In his much-anticipated college debut, he did not disappoint as he tied the third best performance by CU golfer in a first collegiate meet when he tied for eighth in New Mexico’s Tucker Invitational.  His 2-under par 71-71-72—214 scorecard (featuring 13 birdies and 31 pars) was the first under-par effort by a freshman in his first tournament in school history as well.  He had two other top 10 efforts in the fall, tying for seventh at Pepperdine’s Club Glove (228, +12) and for ninth at the Tunica National Intercollegiate (227, +11).  He then added 10th-place ties early in the spring at the Houston All-American (217, +1) and the Louisiana Classics (214, -2) to set the record.  But he would struggle a bit the remainder of the spring, although his second round 71 at the Big 12 Championships was the ninth best score posted for those 18 holes and marked the single best round-to-round improvement by anyone in the meet; he closed with a 236 total to place 58th overall.  In the fall, he averaged 74.33 strokes per round, second best on the team, with all 12 of his rounds counting toward team scoring.  It was quite a debut semester, as he led the team in final round average (73.0), putts per round (28.1) and fairways hit (72.0), while averaging the fewest double bogeys or worse on the team.  He was named CU’s Freshman Male Athlete of the Year for all sports at the school’s annual CUSPY (CU Sports Performers of the Year) Awards on May 2.

2004-05 (Fr.): Redshirted; he enrolled in January, as he delayed attending CU after he fractured his ankle in a rollover automobile accident on July 14, 2004.  He was ruled ineligible to participate in tournaments after taking some community college courses in the fall during his rehab, but it might have been for the better as he used the time to strengthen the ankle and fine tune his game.

High School—A four-time letterman in golf for coach Jim McCord, he was the top prep recruit in the state of Colorado for 2004 if not the last decade. He was the No. 33 ranked junior golfer in the world and the 23rd ranked U.S. high school senior.  He tied for fourth as a senior in the Colorado state 5A high school championship, with his 73-69—142 five strokes behind teammate Ryan Husted’s winning score as ThunderRidge easily captured a third straight team title.  He owned a stroke average of 70.0 his senior season.  As a junior, he was the 5A state champ, carding a pair of 69s for a 138 score and a 6-stroke victory at Englewood’s Inverness Golf Club, as ThunderRidge won the championship on the first playoff hole over Cherry Creek.   He placed 11th as a sophomore (69-75—144) at Patty Jewett Golf Course in Colorado Springs.

Other—2008: Derek captured the Colorado Golf Association’s State Public Links title, as he recorded a 65-68-66—199 (-11) scorecard at Fox Hollow GC in Lakewood to win his first state championship after nine runner-up finishes; he defeated teammate Patrick Grady by two strokes in claiming the victory.  He was one of three players to qualify for the U.S. Amateur in sectional qualifying at the Colorado Golf Club in Parker, as he posted a pair of 73s for a 146 score (+2) in earning the third and final spot after winning on the first playoff hole.  In the event at Pinehurst, N.C., he shot 72-73—145 (+1) as he was one of 26 players tied for 63rd; he was not one of the two who moved on to match play after a massive playoff.   He tied for third in the Pacific Coast Amateur with a 67-65-68-74—274 (-6) effort at Royal Colwood Golf Club in Victoria, B.C.  He was second heading into the final round and was in the lead on the back nine but eventually was undone by a triple bogey on 17; he finished three shots out of the lead.  He tied for second low amateur honors in the Colorado Open (and for 10th overall), with a 71-75-70-65—281 (-3) scorecard at Green Valley Ranch in Denver; his final round 65 was the third best score for the day and vaulted him into the top 10.  He finished as the runner-up in the Colorado Golf Association’s Match Play Championship, losing to teammate Luke Symons 2 and 1 in the finals.  He shot a 36-38—74 at Colorado Golf Club in Parker in U.S. Open Local Qualifying (May 19), but won a five-way playoff to earn second alternate status.  2007: Qualified for the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship, finishing second in local qualifying at Mira Vista Golf Course (Aurora) with a 70-65—135 scorecard (-7); he had the low second round in the field.  In the national meet at Cantigny Golf Club in Wheaton, Ill., he missed advancing to the match play portion, as he shot a 77-74—151 (+7) in the qualifying; he was among 20 players tied for the last 16 spots but was eliminated on the second playoff hole. Teamed with Michael Baird to finish tied for second in the Colorado Golf Association Two-Man Championships (lost by three strokes to CU’s Grady brothers).  Member of the 2007 Colorado Cup Team.  2006: Qualified for the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship in a playoff at Mira Vista Golf Course in Aurora; after shooting 71-67—138 to tie for second overall, he birdied the first playoff hole to earn the second of three available spots in the sectional qualifying.  He tied for 52nd (78-71—149) in the stroke play portion of the APL at the Gold Mountain Golf Club in Bremerton, Wash., advancing into match play; where he dropped his first round match.  Tied for second in the Southwestern Amateur (74-71-71-73—289), the second best finish ever by a Buffalo in the tournament’s 91-year history, at The Badlands Golf Club in Las Vegas, Nev.  He tied for fourth in the CGA’s Public Links Championship (71-70-66—207, two off the lead) at Hyland Hills in Westminster.  Finished as the 11th low amateur (52nd overall) in the Colorado Open with a 72-72-71-73—288 scorecard at Green Valley Ranch GC.  He shot a 71 in local U.S. Open Qualifying at Lone Tree Golf Club, just missing by two strokes to advance to sectional qualifying.  He finished 18th in the CGA Stroke Play Championship at Boulder CC, turning in a 74-69-69-75—287 scorecard.  Tied for 32nd in the Pacific Coast Amateur at the Olympic Club (Daly City, Calif.; 72-75-71-77).Tied for 81st in the Pacific Coast Amateur at the Olympic Club (Daly City, Calif.; 79-80-74-79). 2005: Selected the CGA Amateur Player of the Year as he was the men’s points winner (628.0).  He finished as the runner-up in the Colorado State Match Play Championship, losing on the second playoff hole (38th overall) to teammate Pat Grady at Bear Creek Golf Club in Lakewood (it was his ninth finalist or runner-up effort in state amateur history).  He placed fifth in the Colorado State Stroke Play Championship with an 8-under par 73-66-66-71—276 showing at Glenmoor Country Club in Englewood.  He was the low amateur in the Denver Open at Buffalo Run Golf Course (71-64-69—204, -12) as he finished third overall, just three shots out of the lead.  He captured the CGA Two-Man championship with Michael Baird as the duo won by four shots over his CU teammates Kenny Coakley and Jim Grady with a 65-68—133 score.  Three straight 68s at Indian Peaks G.C. for a 12-under 204 total netted him second place in the CGA Public Links Championship in June.  He finished ninth in the U.S. Open sectional qualifying at Columbine (74-73—147), advancing from the state stage.  He tied for 12th in the local qualifying for the U.S. Amateur Public Links (70-73—143).  He tied for 12th overall (and for the third low amateur) in the Colorado Open at Green Valley Ranch (70-71-69-71—281, -7).  Also won the Fox Hill Invitational and the Boomerang Amateur Open.  He was 64th in the Pacific Coast Amateur in Bandon, Ore. (80-77-75-76—308, +22).  In the Scratch Players Championship near Monterey, Calif., he tied for 40th (76-76-72—228) but did not advance into the final round.  2004: He finished 24th (78-73-72—224) in the CGA Public Links Championship at Collindale GC in Fort Collins, tied for sixth in state match play qualifying (70) at Riverdale Dunes Golf Club and advanced into the final round of 16; and teamed with Michael Baird to finish fifth in the CGA Two-Man Championship at Eagle Ranch CC (71-73—144).  2003: In June, he finished 19th in the prestigious Southwestern Amateur, turning in an 8-under performance (72-72-69-67—280) on Arizona State’s Karsten Golf Course.  He battled it out head-to-head with Kane Webber, CU’s and No. 1 player three times in the summer, going down to the wire each time: in the Colorado State Publinks at Fox Hollow (Lakewood), the pair were tied at 10-under par after 54 holes before Webber won on the first playoff hole.  Later in the summer, Tolan owned a seven-shot lead over Webber at the State Stroke Play Championship, only to see the CU senior-to-be close strong to win a second straight title, but Tolan did tie for second.  He won the Southwestern Junior Classic in Albuquerque for the second straight year, one of six top five finishes on the American Junior Golf Association circuit he posted over the 2002 and 2003 summers.  He also tied for 27th in the Scratch Players Championship (71-71-76—218, +2).  2002: He became the first and only golfer in United States Golf Association history to have played in the U.S. Open, the U.S. Public Links Championship, the U.S. Junior Amateur and the U.S. Amateur in the same year, doing so between June and August.  He made history to open the summer, as in June, he played as a 16-year old in the U.S. Open at Bethpage on Long Island, N.Y. He missed the cut at the Open, turning in a 78-88—166 scorecard on the tough Beth Page Black course.  He qualified for the U.S. Open by tying for second in the local qualifying (68) and placing second in the sectional qualifying (70-69—139). In the Open, he was the celebrity of his group, as he was paired with Charles Raulerson and Andy Sanders; however, he played practice rounds with former Buff and ’96 U.S. Open champion Steve Jones, another former CU golfer Ben Portie, Darren Clarke, Thomas Bjorn, Tom Byrum, Scott Verplank and Bob Tway.  He tied for third in the qualifying of the Publinks before losing in the first round; he lost in the first round of the Junior Am; and he missed match play by three strokes at the U.S. Amateur.

This information comes from www.cubuffs.com