Utah Golf at 1-under, Barcos Tied for 14th at Thunderbird Collegiate

PHOENIX – Javier Barcos owns a share of 14th and is one of three Utes in the top 25, while the University of Utah men’s golf team is tied for seventh at 1-under at the conclusion of play on Friday at the Thunderbird Collegiate, which is being held at the Papago Golf Course in Phoenix.
 
“As a team, we were exceptional in so many ways,” said coach Garrett Clegg, “Today was a major battle and the wind was really blowing hard in the second round. It was a tough, tough day! We played outstanding and then had a terrible stretch of three holes, from 10 – 12, that really hurt us. We did a great job of bouncing back and finishing our day strongly!”
 
Barcos finished Friday with Utah’s lowest score thanks in part to a first-round 69 that included a 2-under 33 on the back nine. The native of Estella, Spain followed an up-and-down first half of the round by carding nothing but birdies and pars after the turn. He continued his excellent play during the first half of round two, posting a 3-under 33 in which he birdied the second, third and seventh holes before entering the clubhouse at even par. That mark left him 2-under for the day and just two strokes outside the top 10.
 
Brandon Robison was also 2-under following his first trip around the course, thanks in part to five red scores, including consecutive birdies on the second and third. He also ended the round with a birdie on the par-4 18th. In round two, Robison used a strong finish that saw him put up red numbers on holes 15 and 18 to get his 36-hole score to even and he’ll enter round three sharing 25th with seven other golfers.
 
Another of those players in a deadlock for 25th is Sergio Jimenez, who finished the morning at 1-over despite 13 total pars and a birdies on the ninth and 16th holes. He quickly bounced back with back-to-back birds on holes one and two in round two and would add another on the par-5 15th. Jimenez currently sits at even par for the tournament with one hole left to complete in round two, where his score stands at 1-under.
 
Braxton Watts’ day included an eagle on the par-5 15th and he added a birdie on the 17th to cap his second trip around the course at even and 2-over for the tournament, dropping him into a tie for 41st. Gabriel Palacios is sharing 61st.
 
Utah’s team score has them sharing seventh with Oklahoma State and No. 13 Texas…