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Aggie Golfer Grahm Schmaltz Records Best-Ever Collegiate Tournament With Second-Place Finish

ST. GEORGE, Utah – Senior Grahm Schmaltz concluded his best-ever collegiate tournament with a 7-under 137 (69-68) to finish second individually and help Utah State place fifth as a team with an even par 576 (284-292) at the Southern Utah hosted Pat Hicks Thunderbird Invitational held here at the Sunbrook Golf Club on Monday and Tuesday.

The College of Charleston won the team title with a 13-under par 563 (285-278) and Dixie State’s Kenny You took medalist honors with an 8-under 136 (67-69) to finish one stroke ahead of Schmaltz.

Schmaltz tied his collegiate-low round with a 4-under 68 on Tuesday and posted his best-ever tournament finish with his second-place showing, bettering his 11th-place finish at the Mark Simpson Colorado Invitational last fall. Schmaltz, who had a pair of rounds in the 60s this week, entered the tournament with just two career rounds under 70.

For Utah State, its fifth-place finish this week marks the third time in six tournaments this year it has recorded a top-five placing and USU has now finished in the top 10 of every tournament it has competed in this season.

Joining Schmaltz on the leaderboard for Utah State was junior Seokwon Jeon who tied for 24th-place with a 2-over 146 (73-73) and sophomore McCoy Willey who also tied for 24th-place with a 2-over 146 (67-79). Willey began the tournament with a collegiate-low 5-under 67 on Monday. Other Aggies who competed in the tournament include senior Zach Waxler who tied for 42nd-place with a 5-over 149 (77-72) and junior Brennan Coburn who tied for 70th-place with a 13-over 157 (75-82). Sophomore Eli Rogers also competed for USU as an individual and tied for 42nd-place with a 5-over 149 (77-72).

Utah State will return to action on Monday, March 23 when it travels to Arroyo Grande, Calif., to compete in the Cal Poly Match Play Tournament.

Fans can follow Utah State's golf program on Facebook at facebook.com/USUMensGolf and on Twitter at @USUMensGolf.

TEAM RESULTS

1.  College of Charleston – 285-278 — 563 (-13)

2.  Southern Utah – 293-276 — 569 (-7)

3.  Utah Valley – 281-290 — 571 (-5)

4.  CS Northridge – 288-286 — 572 (-2)

5.  UTAH STATE – 284-292 — 576 (E)

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS

1.  Kenny You, Dixie State – 67-69 — 136 (-8)

2.  Grahm Schmaltz, Utah State – 69-68 — 137 (-7)

3.  Brayden Eriksen, Utah Valley – 65-73 — 138 (-6)

3.  Michael O’Connor, CS Northridge – 69-69 — 138 (-6)

3.  J.T. Timmons, Utah Valley – 68-70 — 138 (-6)

UTAH STATE INDIVIDUAL RESULTS

2.  Grahm Schmaltz – 69-68 — 137 (-7)

T24.  Seokwon Jeon – 73-73 — 146 (+2)

T24.  McCoy Willey – 67-79 — 146 (+2)

T42.  Zach Waxler – 77-72 — 149 (+5)

T42. Eli Rogers – 77-72 — 149 (+5)

T70.  Brennan Coburn – 75-82 — 157 (+13)