Upcoming Event: Men's Golf versus Tindall Invitational on September 22, 2025
Men's Golf
vs Tindall Invitational
Monday, March 17
Tucson, Ariz.
University of Utah
vs
Arizona Thunderbird Intercollegiate
No. 10 Utah Golf Puts Together Strong Second Round, Ranks Fifth in Tucson
3/17/2025 8:36 PM | Men's Golf
The Utes were led by Brandon Robison who sits tied for first after a strong second round
TUCSON, Ariz. – The No. 10 University of Utah Men's Golf team climbed its way out of an early hole to conclude day one of the Arizona Thunderbirds Intercollegiate on Monday, finishing in a tie for fifth place and just four strokes out of first place. Brandon Robison put together a stellar second round to launch himself into a tie for first place.
"Brandon's second round was fantastic, it helped keep us in the tournament," head coach Garrett Clegg said. "We need a big round tomorrow, but only four strokes back so we can make that up if we play a little cleaner. The second round we were playing really good golf, unfortunately we just had a poor finish over the last couple of holes that kept us from being a shot or two off the lead."
The Utes were plagued by a slow start, sitting in the back of the field before the team began to find its swing later in the first round. The momentum was sparked by the tenth hole of the course as all five Utes posted either a birdie or an eagle. Utah is leading the field in different categories such as par 5s (-16) and eagles (3) while sitting second in total birdies (31).
Robison opened up the tournament struggling on the course, shooting 3-over across the front nine before kicking his game into high gear. The junior began the back nine of the first round with a birdie before tallying another red mark four holes later and again on the last hole of the first round to finish even. In the second round, Robison scored a couple of birdies within the first five holes to head into the back nine 2-under. The junior started to heat up into the back nine, tallying four birdies within the first five holes to sit 6-under. On the second to last hole, the Utah native notched a birdie but finished 5-under and in a tie for first place while jumping 23 spots.
Gabriel Palacios recorded one of the two best first round scores for the Utes, beginning play with four even scores before hitting a birdie and a bogey on back-to-back holes. The sophomore finished up the front half with a bogey to begin the back nine 1-over. Palacios immediately fell back under par with an eagle on the first hole of the back nine before adding another bogey and a birdie throughout the remaining eight holes of the first round to shoot 1-under for the first round. Palacios started things off well in the second round, recording a birdie and grabbed another six holes later but two bogeys across the final three holes of the front half leveled him out. The first two holes of the back nine were marked as bogeys as well but a birdie on the final hole allowed for a 1-over finish and in 11th overall.
In the first round, Sergio Jimenez started the tournament with eight straight even marks before notching a double bogey on the final hole before moving into the back half of the course. The back nine added more marks on Jimenez's scorecard than the front half, getting things started with a birdie and a bogey on the first two holes. After another even score, Jimenez tallied a bogey, a birdie, an eagle, and another birdie, all on consecutive holes to bring his score down to 1-under. On the final hole of the course, Jimenez added another bogey to sit even. To begin the second round, Jimenez grabbed a birdie but evened out with a bogey on the next hole. To close out the front nine, the sophomore dealt with another bogey but responded with a birdie to open the back nine. Over the final eight holes, Jimenez notched another bogey and finished with a double bogey to finish 3-over for the round and in a tie for 25th.
Senior Braxton Watts posted a similar score as many of his teammates in the first round, shooting 1-over across the front nine before grabbing an eagle on the opening hole of the back half to better his score to 1-under. Across the next six holes, Watts notched a trio of bogeys and one birdie to sit 1-over. On the final hole of the course, the senior tallied his third birdie to sit even with par. In the second round, Watts tallied four bogeys and a birdie before the back nine included three birdies, a bogey, and a double bogey to finish the round 3-over and in a tie for 25th.
Davis Johnson began the tournament on the right foot, recording a birdie on the opening hole to move 1-under. On the next hole, Johnson ran into a bogey before adding another set of the two on the fifth and sixth holes. Once onto the back nine, Johnson moved back under par with a birdie on the first hole and added a bogey and a birdie later on the course. The redshirt junior shot 1-under for the first round. Johnson had a hard time finding his swing in the second round, totaling six bogeys and 12 even marks to fall to 5-over and in 36th.
Individual competitor Rex Wilson shot 5-over in the first round before shooting even in the second, leaving four holes left before darkness suspended play.
NEXT UP
The final round of the Arizona Thunderbirds Intercollegiate will take place tomorrow morning at the Tucson Country Club. The Utes will begin play in a staggered format with the golfers teeing off at 7:30 a.m. MT.
FOLLOW THE UTES
For an inside look at the Utah Golf program along with tournament, roster and news updates, fans can follow the Utes on social media (X: @UtesGolf | Instagram: @UtesGolf).
"Brandon's second round was fantastic, it helped keep us in the tournament," head coach Garrett Clegg said. "We need a big round tomorrow, but only four strokes back so we can make that up if we play a little cleaner. The second round we were playing really good golf, unfortunately we just had a poor finish over the last couple of holes that kept us from being a shot or two off the lead."
The Utes were plagued by a slow start, sitting in the back of the field before the team began to find its swing later in the first round. The momentum was sparked by the tenth hole of the course as all five Utes posted either a birdie or an eagle. Utah is leading the field in different categories such as par 5s (-16) and eagles (3) while sitting second in total birdies (31).
Robison opened up the tournament struggling on the course, shooting 3-over across the front nine before kicking his game into high gear. The junior began the back nine of the first round with a birdie before tallying another red mark four holes later and again on the last hole of the first round to finish even. In the second round, Robison scored a couple of birdies within the first five holes to head into the back nine 2-under. The junior started to heat up into the back nine, tallying four birdies within the first five holes to sit 6-under. On the second to last hole, the Utah native notched a birdie but finished 5-under and in a tie for first place while jumping 23 spots.
Gabriel Palacios recorded one of the two best first round scores for the Utes, beginning play with four even scores before hitting a birdie and a bogey on back-to-back holes. The sophomore finished up the front half with a bogey to begin the back nine 1-over. Palacios immediately fell back under par with an eagle on the first hole of the back nine before adding another bogey and a birdie throughout the remaining eight holes of the first round to shoot 1-under for the first round. Palacios started things off well in the second round, recording a birdie and grabbed another six holes later but two bogeys across the final three holes of the front half leveled him out. The first two holes of the back nine were marked as bogeys as well but a birdie on the final hole allowed for a 1-over finish and in 11th overall.
In the first round, Sergio Jimenez started the tournament with eight straight even marks before notching a double bogey on the final hole before moving into the back half of the course. The back nine added more marks on Jimenez's scorecard than the front half, getting things started with a birdie and a bogey on the first two holes. After another even score, Jimenez tallied a bogey, a birdie, an eagle, and another birdie, all on consecutive holes to bring his score down to 1-under. On the final hole of the course, Jimenez added another bogey to sit even. To begin the second round, Jimenez grabbed a birdie but evened out with a bogey on the next hole. To close out the front nine, the sophomore dealt with another bogey but responded with a birdie to open the back nine. Over the final eight holes, Jimenez notched another bogey and finished with a double bogey to finish 3-over for the round and in a tie for 25th.
Senior Braxton Watts posted a similar score as many of his teammates in the first round, shooting 1-over across the front nine before grabbing an eagle on the opening hole of the back half to better his score to 1-under. Across the next six holes, Watts notched a trio of bogeys and one birdie to sit 1-over. On the final hole of the course, the senior tallied his third birdie to sit even with par. In the second round, Watts tallied four bogeys and a birdie before the back nine included three birdies, a bogey, and a double bogey to finish the round 3-over and in a tie for 25th.
Davis Johnson began the tournament on the right foot, recording a birdie on the opening hole to move 1-under. On the next hole, Johnson ran into a bogey before adding another set of the two on the fifth and sixth holes. Once onto the back nine, Johnson moved back under par with a birdie on the first hole and added a bogey and a birdie later on the course. The redshirt junior shot 1-under for the first round. Johnson had a hard time finding his swing in the second round, totaling six bogeys and 12 even marks to fall to 5-over and in 36th.
Individual competitor Rex Wilson shot 5-over in the first round before shooting even in the second, leaving four holes left before darkness suspended play.
NEXT UP
The final round of the Arizona Thunderbirds Intercollegiate will take place tomorrow morning at the Tucson Country Club. The Utes will begin play in a staggered format with the golfers teeing off at 7:30 a.m. MT.
FOLLOW THE UTES
For an inside look at the Utah Golf program along with tournament, roster and news updates, fans can follow the Utes on social media (X: @UtesGolf | Instagram: @UtesGolf).
Players Mentioned
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