CU’s Hunter Swanson at home for pro debut at Inspirato Colorado Open | Golf Insider
Starting his pro golf journey at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club felt right to Hunter Swanson.
The former Northfield High School and University of Colorado star officially turned pro after graduation and will make his debut Thursday at the Inspirato Colorado Open, where he will be competing for the $200,000 purse.
“It feels surreal for sure,” Swanson told The Denver Gazette on Tuesday before a practice round. “I’ve been dreaming of playing professional golf ever since I was a young kid. Growing up here at this home golf course of mine, walking down to the course since I was like 11 years old, all working to this moment. But I knew it was going to happen someday for sure. I knew it was going to come.”
That moment is here for Swanson. He’s had plenty of success at all levels. He finished in the top 10 three times at the state tournament while playing for Northfield, including a second-place finish as a sophomore. He was the first four-time all-state selection from Northfield.
His career at Colorado was equally decorated. He finished his college career in the top 10 in 16 statistical categories. The Buffs twice made the NCAA Tournament during his four-year career. Swanson was also Colorado’s nominee for Big 12 Athlete of the Year last season and finished his career with the second-most tournaments played at CU with 50.
He also played in the U.S. Amateur, Pacific Coast Amateur and the North-South Amateur in 2025 and the British Amateur in 2026.
Even with all those accolades, Swanson is emotional about his first start as a pro.
“When I was driving down this morning, I was almost tearing up a little bit,” he said. “I was like, wow, I can’t believe I’m doing this. I’m on this side of the ropes this time. I grew up always watching it and volunteering and now I actually get to be the guy playing in it.”
Colorado coach Roy Edwards saw Swanson blossom throughout Swanson’s four years in Boulder. He knows how much representing Colorado and the university means to his former player.
“He’s as good as it gets representing the University of Colorado and the state,” Edwards said.
Edwards also knows the grind of being a professional golfer. He has coached several golfers at Colorado who have gone on to be professionals, including the Paul brothers (Yannik and Jeremy), Justin Biwer, Derek Tolan and Pat Grady. During his time as an assistant, Edwards coached Brandt Snedeker at Vanderbilt and Gary Woodland at Kansas.
Tolan and Grady are both in this week’s field.
The longtime coach sees plenty in Swanson that will lead to him succeeding on the pro level.
“He’s a very consistent golfer,” Edwards said. “He can have a bad shot or round and commit to turning it around. He is fully prepared. Hunter is going in with his eyes wide open.”
Turning pro is not the only new title for Swanson. He has officially been named an assistant coach with the University of Colorado for the fall season. He will join Tolan on Edwards’ staff.
“I’m going to stick around for another year,” Swanson said. “I get to keep access to Colorado National and all the other courses. It’s really just a perfect fit right now.”
The jam-packed schedule has more to come. Swanson plans on playing in DP World Tour Q-school in September and possibly Korn Ferry Q-school after that. The 22-year-old found time to get out for a practice round Tuesday with his friend from junior golf, Ian McCrary, who is also in the field.
The two met playing junior golf in 2019 and stayed in touch while both playing the Big 12. McCrary, who also recently turned pro, went to Kansas State.
“I’m excited to see it. I did the same thing,” McCrary said. “It’s a fun journey and I’m happy he’s going to be trying to do it as well.”
Swanson has also spent time caddying the last few years. He was on the bag for Boulder’s Mile Kuhl when Kuhl qualified for the U.S. Amateur in 2024. During this year’s Colorado Women’s Open, Swanson caddied for his girlfriend, Carolyn Fuller, a fellow Buff. Two weeks ago, Swanson worked with former teammate Justin Biwer in The Blue Championship at TPC Colorado, where Biwer placed in the top 10.
“I do think in many ways it makes me a better golfer,” he said. “I actually really enjoy working with Justin or Carolyn. Someone who’s a very high-level player playing in an event and work through like game plans and shots, and it’s cool to get an outside perspective to see exactly how I would treat a round of golf and maybe learn a little bit.”
Swanson knows Green Valley Ranch, but he still saw value in playing a practice round. He played nine holes Tuesday and was also part of the pro-am Wednesday when he played all 18 holes.
“I think if I start hitting a bunch of extra putts and a bunch of extra shots, I would just be doing too much overthinking,” he said about Tuesday’s round. “I think today’s just going to be about keeping it simple and having fun.”
The four-round Inspirato Colorado Open begins Thursday with a field of 144 players. The winner takes home $50,000. Aspen’s Jim Knous, who is part of this year’s tournament, won the 2025 title with an eagle on the fourth playoff hole.
Skins game
Odds to win 3M Open
Scottie Scheffler +260
Kurt Kitayama +2500
Maverick McNealy +2700
Hideki Matsuyama +3000
Tom Kim +3000
Keith Mitchell +3300
This week in golf
PGA Tour
3M Open
Site: Blaine, Minn.
Course: TPC Twin Cities. Yardage: 7,431. Par: 71.
Prize money: $8.8 million. Winner’s share: $1.584 million.
Television: Thursday-Friday, 2-5 p.m. (Golf Channel); Saturday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. (Golf), 1-4 p.m. (CBS).
Defending champion: Kurt Kitayama.
LIV Golf League
LIV Golf U.K.
Site: Rocester, England.
Course: JCB Golf & CC. Yardage: 7,332. Par: 72.
Prize money: $20 million. Winner’s share: $4 million.
Television: Thursday-Friday, 6-11 a.m. (FS2); Saturday, 6-11 a.m. (Fox); Sunday, 6-11 a.m. (FS1).
Defending champion: Joaquin Niemann.
PGA Tour Champions
Senior British Open
Site: Gleneagles, Scotland.
Course: Gleneagles GC (Kings). Yardage: 6,859. Par: 70.
Prize money: $2.85 million. Winner’s share: $447,800.
Television: Thursday-Friday, 6:30 a.m.-noon (Golf); Saturday-Sunday, 6:30-10 a.m. (Golf), 10 a.m.-noon (NBC).
Defending champion: Padraig Harrington.
Ladies European Tour and LPGA Tour
ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open
Site: Irvine, Scotland.
Course: Dundonald Links. Yardage: 6,538. Par: 72.
Prize money: $2 million. Winner’s share: $300,000.
Television: Thursday-Friday, 2:30-6:30 a.m. (Golf); Saturday, 6-10 a.m. (CNBC); Sunday, 5-9 a.m. (CNBC).
Defending champion: Lottie Woad.
Korn Ferry Tour
Evans Scholar Invitational
Site: Glenview, Ill.
Course: The Glen Club. Yardage: 7,262. Par: 71.
Prize money: $1 million. Winner’s share: $180,000.
Television: None.
Defending champion: Johnny Keefer.
World Golf Rankings
- Scottie Scheffler 16.38
- Rory McIlroy 9.26
- Cameron Young 8.33
- Matt Fitzpatrick 7.20
- Russell Henley 5.78
- Tommy Fleetwood 5.63
- Chris Gotterup 5.52
- Collin Morikawa 5.38
- Wyndham Clark 5.25
- Justin Rose 5.06
- Sam Burns 5.06
- Jon Rahm 4.85
- Viktor Hovland 4.72
- J.J. Spaun 4.71
- Xander Schauffele 4.54
- Ludvig Aberg 4.36
- Robert MacIntyre 4.35
- Si Woo Kim 4.26
- Ben Griffin 4.25
- Aaron Rai 4.23
- Justin Thomas 4.17
- Ryan Fox 3.92
- Tyrrell Hatton 3.86
- Ryan Gerard 3.61
- Sepp Straka 3.60