It doesn’t matter how many times Hunter Swanson has played Green Valley Ranch Golf Club — he was nervous this week.

His nerves didn’t show during Friday’s second round of the Inspirato Colorado Open on a day when temperatures pushed 100 degrees.

The former CU Buffs star golfer shot a 6-under 65 to jump 13 spots on the leaderboard and be in contention in his first tournament since turning pro. He is in a tie for eighth place.

“I was nervous today,” Swanson told The Denver Gazette. “I’d be lying to you completely if I said I wasn’t nervous. I caught myself shaking. This tournament just means so much to me. And yeah, it is a big deal to me.”

Swanson has been playing at Green Valley Ranch since he was 12 years old, so he is very familiar with the course. He starred at Northfield High School and the University of Colorado before just recently turning pro.

His round Friday included four birdies and an eagle on the drivable par-4 14th hole, which he said he has played “so many times I know exactly what and where to hit.” Swanson had a 68 in the first round.

“I just tried to keep it simple, keep it like it was another round when I was 12 years old out here,” he said. “I think I hit every single green out there today, which makes it a lot easier.”

Swanson’s colleague on the CU Buffs coaching staff also went low Friday. Derek Tolan, who won the Colorado Open in 2009 and 2012, shot a 67 with five birdies to move up to a tie for 19th going into the weekend.

Former Colorado State golfer AJ Ott jumped up the leaderboard with a 65 of his own. He had six birdies and no bogeys to finish the day in a tie for 10th. Ott has played in every Colorado Open since 2019 with his best finish being ninth place in 2024.

Greeley native and South Dakota State head coach Parker Edens is low amateur at 6 under. Edens has played well in this event and finished in a tie for second in 2023.

They are all chasing Blake Tomlinson, whose second straight 65 puts him on top of the leaderboard at 12 under. The former University of Utah golfer had seven birdies and one bogey on the day. He currently plays on the PGA Tour Americas.

Jamie Wilson, who played his college golf at South Carolina, went out early and shot a 63 with an eagle and seven birdies and sits one stroke back with Rylan Johnson.

Wilson is playing in his third Colorado Open with a tie for 18th in last year’s event.

Tommy Kuhl and Carson Lundell sit in a tie for third place at 10 under. There are 30 players within six shots of the lead.

Sixty-six players made the cut and are in the running for the $200,000 purse. Third-round tee times will start at 7:30 a.m. Saturday.