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Three Utes Selected to NCAA Division I PING All-Region Team
5/24/2025 12:38 PM | Men's Golf
The trio of Utes each earn the first All-Region selections of their collegiate career
CARLSBAD, Calif. – Braxton Watts, Gabriel Palacios, and Sergio Jimenez all earned a spot on the 2025 NCAA Division I PING All-Region West Team, as announced by the Golf Coaches Association of America on Saturday.
Watts has been a leader throughout the season for the Utes which includes winning the NCAA Bremerton Regional individual title with a 12-under 204 to earn a spot in the NCAA Championships. Watts was unable to crack the top ten until placing second at the Desert Mountain Collegiate in March, finishing in second with a 9-under performance. The senior added another top five finish at the Schenkel Invitational before adding his individual crown in Bremerton.
Rising sophomore stars Gabriel Palacios and Sergio Jimenez each had a stellar season in their second year at the collegiate level, climbing the national rankings while bringing home the hardware for the Utes.
Palacios has been a consistent presence in the top ten this season as the sophomore leads the team with a five top ten finishes, all of which ranked inside the top five as well. Palacios finished one stroke out of first at the Palouse Collegiate to open the season before beginning the spring season with an individual title at the John Burns Intercollegiate to earn his first collegiate individual crown. The Guatemala native took off from there, placing inside the top 15 in five of the remaining seven tournaments throughout the season. Palacios grabbed his second individual title at The Goodwin in early spring to add another trophy to an exceptional season. Palacios leads the team with a 70.2 stroke average. The sophomore currently ranks as the #48 men's college golfer in the country.
Jimenez started the season in a big way, claiming his first individual collegiate title at the Palouse Collegiate in the first event of the season. Throughout the rest of the season, the Spain native grabbed four more top ten finishes and two more top three finishes at the Tindall Invitational and the John Burns Intercollegiate. Jimenez also competed in every round this season, posting a 70.7 stroke average which sits 1.7 strokes better than last season's. Jimenez also owns the lowest round by any Ute golfer in program history, posting a 10-under 61 at the Palouse Collegiate.
Watts continues his postseason run into round two of the NCAA Championships today at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa.
West Region Team
Carlos Astiazaran, Pacific
Josele Ballester, Arizona State
Justin Biwer, Colorado
Mahanth Chirravuri, Pepperdine
Chanachon Chokprajakchat, San Diego State
Alejandro de Castro Piera, Long Beach State
Pablo Ereño, UCLA
Caden Fioroni, UNLV
Charlie Forster, Long Beach State
Justin Hastings, San Diego State
Dane Huddleston, Utah Valley
Filip Jakubcik, Arizona
Sergio Jimenez, Utah
Peter Kim, BYU
Pongsapak Laopakdee, Arizona State
Greyson Leach, Oregon
Zach Little, UNLV
Dylan McDermott, Colorado
Michael Mjaaseth, Arizona State
Omar Morales, UCLA
Gabriel Palacios, Utah
Zach Pollo, Arizona
Cole Ponich, BYU
Preston Summerhays, Arizona State
Braxton Watts, Utah
Connor Williams, Arizona State
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).
Watts has been a leader throughout the season for the Utes which includes winning the NCAA Bremerton Regional individual title with a 12-under 204 to earn a spot in the NCAA Championships. Watts was unable to crack the top ten until placing second at the Desert Mountain Collegiate in March, finishing in second with a 9-under performance. The senior added another top five finish at the Schenkel Invitational before adding his individual crown in Bremerton.
Rising sophomore stars Gabriel Palacios and Sergio Jimenez each had a stellar season in their second year at the collegiate level, climbing the national rankings while bringing home the hardware for the Utes.
Palacios has been a consistent presence in the top ten this season as the sophomore leads the team with a five top ten finishes, all of which ranked inside the top five as well. Palacios finished one stroke out of first at the Palouse Collegiate to open the season before beginning the spring season with an individual title at the John Burns Intercollegiate to earn his first collegiate individual crown. The Guatemala native took off from there, placing inside the top 15 in five of the remaining seven tournaments throughout the season. Palacios grabbed his second individual title at The Goodwin in early spring to add another trophy to an exceptional season. Palacios leads the team with a 70.2 stroke average. The sophomore currently ranks as the #48 men's college golfer in the country.
Jimenez started the season in a big way, claiming his first individual collegiate title at the Palouse Collegiate in the first event of the season. Throughout the rest of the season, the Spain native grabbed four more top ten finishes and two more top three finishes at the Tindall Invitational and the John Burns Intercollegiate. Jimenez also competed in every round this season, posting a 70.7 stroke average which sits 1.7 strokes better than last season's. Jimenez also owns the lowest round by any Ute golfer in program history, posting a 10-under 61 at the Palouse Collegiate.
Watts continues his postseason run into round two of the NCAA Championships today at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa.
West Region Team
Carlos Astiazaran, Pacific
Josele Ballester, Arizona State
Justin Biwer, Colorado
Mahanth Chirravuri, Pepperdine
Chanachon Chokprajakchat, San Diego State
Alejandro de Castro Piera, Long Beach State
Pablo Ereño, UCLA
Caden Fioroni, UNLV
Charlie Forster, Long Beach State
Justin Hastings, San Diego State
Dane Huddleston, Utah Valley
Filip Jakubcik, Arizona
Sergio Jimenez, Utah
Peter Kim, BYU
Pongsapak Laopakdee, Arizona State
Greyson Leach, Oregon
Zach Little, UNLV
Dylan McDermott, Colorado
Michael Mjaaseth, Arizona State
Omar Morales, UCLA
Gabriel Palacios, Utah
Zach Pollo, Arizona
Cole Ponich, BYU
Preston Summerhays, Arizona State
Braxton Watts, Utah
Connor Williams, Arizona State
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).
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