PHOENIX – Hunter Howe achieved the highest finish of his Utah career by tying for 12th, finishing with a score of 4-under for the University of Utah men’s golf team, which competed on Saturday in the final round of the Thunderbird Collegiate, which took place at the Papago Golf Course.
“It was a disappointing way for our team to finish the regular season, but Hunter was a bright spot this week!” said head coach Garrett Clegg. “He played really well for us and this was his best tournament as a Ute. Go had another week where he struggled in the first round but played really well the final 36 holes of the tournament.
“We have 10 days at home now to get ready for the PAC-12 Championships. We need to work to get our team in better position to be able to contend.”
Howe completed his 4-under 209, the lowest 54-hole score he’s recorded as a Ute, with a final round that got off to an excellent start. Beginning on the par-4 10th, Howe quickly logged a birdie and added two more before finishing the back nine at 3-under. Despite encountering a few challenges on the front nine, Howe still entered the clubhouse at even-par to capture a share of 12th. That placement surpassed his previous career-best of 17th, which he achieved at the Oregon State Invitational in October.
Go Nakatsukasa was responsible for Utah’s best round of golf on Saturday, shooting 2-under to move 19 spots up the leaderboard. The San Diego native ended the day with six birdies, posting two on the back nine, then following that with four more in the second half of the day, during which time he was 2-under. For the tournament, Nakatsukasa finished 5-over and tied for 50th.
Javier Barcos’ ended the event as Utah’s second-highest finisher, sharing 41st. Barcos finished strong with a score of 1-under over his final nine holes, including one five-hole stretch in which he reeled off four birdies. His 54-hole score was 2-over. Braxton Watts and Davis Johnson, who was competing as an individual, both tied for 72nd, while Brandon Robison placed 77th. Utah’s team mark of 11-over landed them in 11th.
UP NEXT
The next time the Utes step on the course, it will be at the Pac-12 Championship, which will be held April 28-30 in Stanford, Calif.
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