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No. 16 Utah Golf, Palacios Use Late Burst to Secure Co-Champion Titles at John Burns Intercollegiate

No. 16 Utah Golf, Palacios Use Late Burst to Secure Co-Champion Titles at John Burns Intercollegiate


LIHUE, Kauai – The No. 16 University of Utah Men’s Golf team rallied from behind late to claim its third tournament title of the season behind sophomore Gabriel Palacios who earned his first collegiate crown.

It’s the first time in school history that Utah has claimed three tournament titles in one season after taking the Palouse Collegiate and The Tindall in the fall. The Utes recorded their best score at the tournament in its 25th edition of competing at the John Burns Intercollegiate, shooting a 22-under 818. The previous best team score came on Feb. 20, 2022, when Utah finished third with an 11-under 853.

Palacios saved his best round of golf for last at the Ocean Course Hokuala, posting 5-under for the day to better his overall score to 11-under and placed in a tie with UNLV’s Zach Little for first overall. The sophomore sunk a birdie on the final hole of the tournament to push Utah into a tie for first place with UNLV while earning himself a share of first on the individual leaderboard. It’s Palacios’ first collegiate title and second-best tournament score of the season after shooting a 15-under 198 and finishing in second at the Palouse Collegiate to start the season.

“Really awesome to win the John Burns,” said head coach Garrett Clegg. “This is one of the longest running tournaments in college golf and I’m extremely proud of the boys for how hard they battled. We made four birdies to finish, and it was awesome. For Gabriel to win his first ever college tournament and to do it here at the John Burns is amazing. I’m so pumped for him!”

In an emphatic finish, Palacios used a clutch final hole mark, contributing to a share of an individual crown and a team title. The sophomore began the final round tied for second alongside fellow Ute, Sergio Jimenez. His day started off effectively, securing a birdie on the first hole before returning to even with a bogey on the ensuing hole. Just before heading into the back nine, Palacios drilled a birdie on the eighth hole. In an exceptional start to the back nine, Palacios racked up four consecutive birdies to move 5-under. Two holes later, the sophomore recorded a bogey and followed it up with each another birdie and bogey to sit 4-under with just two holes left. Trailing the tournament leader by just one stroke, Palacios added an even mark before sinking a birdie…

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Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at University of Utah Athletics…