SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – The Utah men’s golf season came to an end on Sunday afternoon as the team was unable to advance to Monday’s final stroke play round. Shooting their lowest team score of the NCAA Championships (296, +12) in the third round, the Utes totaled 904 (+64) for the tournament to finish in 27th – their highest finish since their last appearance at the championships in 1988 when Utah placed 29th.
“Today was our best round of the week. Score wise it was only one stroke lower than the first round, but overall it was much better,” head coach Garrett Clegg said. “I know this wasn’t the national championship that we wanted, but it was great to be here. It was a huge learning opportunity for Javier, Martin and Braxton. Hopefully next year we will be back here to finish our season and they will be better prepared for what is in front of them.”
As one of the last teams to tee off this afternoon with the College of Charleston in windy conditions, the Utes finished their championship appearance on a strong note as freshmen Braxton Watts and Martín León paced Utah with their best performances of the weekend. Watts shot the low round for the Utes, turning in a 72 (+2) with a team best four birdies on his scorecard. Watts bested his second-round performance by 14 strokes and his first-round score by five strokes. Starting on the front nine, Watts started his round with a bogey on the first hole and saw a four-hole stretch going birdie-bogey-birdie-bogey to make the turn at 1-over. Watts collected a pair of birdies on the back and three bogeys to card his best round of the weekend, finishing with a total of 237 (+27) for the tournament.
Braxton is off the course and saved his best for last??#GoUtes | #ChampionshipMindset pic.twitter.com/dqR2s01e7Y
— Utah Mens Golf (@UtesGolf) May 30, 2022
Leon played some real solid golf this afternoon, shooting a 73 (+3) to top his second-round score by seven strokes. Like Watts, Martin left with a bogey on the first hole but bounced back immediately with five straight pars before a bogey on the par four seventh put him at 2-over heading into the back. Leon found his lone birdie on the par four 14th hole, in between a pair of pars and bogeys he made to go 1-over on the back. With his 73, Leon totaled 234 (+24) for the weekend.
Martin also closes out his…
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