Utes in Second Place After 36 Holes at Mark Simpson Invitational

Monday, September 26

Erie, Colo.

All Day

University of Utah

Mark Simpson Invitational

Utes in Second Place After 36 Holes at Mark Simpson Invitational

9/26/2016 8:22 PM | Men's Golf

Round 1 Results (PDF)Round 2 Results (PDF)

Costello shoots under par in both rounds on Monday

ERIE, Colo. – The Utah men's golf team carded a first-round 11-under par 277 along with a second-round score of 2-under par 286 and currently sit alone in second place following 36 holes at the Mark Simpson Colorado Invitational, which is being held at Colorado National Golf Club.

The Utes (277-286=563, -13) are five shots back of tournament host Colorado, who sit atop the standings with a two-round score of 18-under par (282-276-558). Utah is one stroke ahead of third place Houston Baptist (283-281=564, -12), and two strokes ahead of both Campbell (283-282=565, -11) and Wyoming (280-285=565, -11), who are each tied for fourth place.

Ten of the 19 teams competing in the event closed out the first two rounds shooting even par or better at the par 72, 7,745-yard course.

Utah's opening round 11-under par 277 ties the school's seventh-lowest score all-time in a single round and it marks the lowest 18-hole score at a par 72 event since posting a 12-under par 276 at the Falcon Invitational in Colorado Springs, Colo., back on Sept. 19, 2009.

The Utes' two-round score of 563 ranks sixth-lowest all-time and is Utah's best two-round score at a par 72 course since carding a 560 (278-282) at the Ron Moore Invitational in Goodyear, Ariz., back on March 20, 2006.

Utah had three players finish among the top-20 and another player finish inside the top-50 among a tournament field that has 108 players competing this week.

Freshman Jordan Costello carded back-to-back rounds under par, posting a 3-under 69 in the first round and a 2-under 70 in Monday's second round. He is in a tie for eighth place with a two-round score of 5-under 139. Costello has posted three consecutive rounds under par dating back to his final-round 4-under 68 at the Itani Quality Homes Collegiate back on Sept. 13.

Junior Kyler Dunkle fired Utah's low round of the afternoon, carding a first-round 5-under 67. He later wrapped up play with a 1-over 73 and sits in a tie for 15th with a two-round score of 4-under 140. Freshman Mitchell Schow follows in a tie for 19th with a two-round score of 3-under 141 (72-69).

Senior Gentry Hicks is in a tie for 47th with a two-round score of 1-over 145 (69-76) and freshman Christian James is in a tie for 75th after carding a a two-round score of 5-over 149 (75-74).

Behind Dunkle's 10 birdies, Schow's nine birdies and Costello's eight birdies on the day, Utah led the entire field with a total of 38 birdies though the first 36 holes. Dunkle was one of 10 players to record an eagle on Monday, which he registered at the par 5, 12th hole during the second round.

Utah wraps up play at the Mark Simpson Invitational with final round action on Tuesday. A staggered shotgun format is scheduled, with the top four teams playing in five tee times of the first tee. Play is scheduled to begin at 7:55 a.m. MT. Live scoring can be found at either GolfStat.com or UtahUtes.com.