News
Check out what has been happening in Utah Golf.
Three T-Birds Earn All-Tournament Status as SUU Finishes Second at 2018 Big Sky Men’s Golf Championship
By Bryson Lester, Director of Strategic Communication at Southern Utah University
BOULDER CITY, Nev. — The 2018 edition of the Big Sky Men’s Golf Championship came to a close on Sunday afternoon, and the Thunderbirds of Southern Utah finished the 54 holes of competition second as a team. Northern Colorado claimed the team and individual title at Boulder Creek Golf Club.
“Before I say anything else I’d like to congratulate Roger Prenzlow and Northern Colorado, they played a fantastic tournament and were great playing partners for us the last three days,” SUU head coach Richard Church said. “We had a really clean day on the golf course, we just weren’t able to make enough birdies to stay in contention down the stretch. We’re really proud of the way the guys fought over the last three days.”
Southern Utah’s Fidel Concepcion went to a playoff for the Big Sky Individual Title, but carded a par as Northern Colorado’s Andrew Romano carded a birdie.
Concepcion, a senior for the Thunderbirds, earned All-Tournament honors by finishing second in the field after shooting an eight-under 208 (67, 73, 68).
“We’re very proud of Fidel and everything he was able to accomplish at Southern Utah,” Church said. “He had a fantastic tournament for us and he left it all out on the course. We look forward to seeing what he’s able to do in the future.”
Finishing second for the Thunderbirds and fourth in the field was sophomore Jake Vincent, who shot a four-under 212 (70, 70, 72). That earned Vincent a spot on the All-Tournament Team as well.
Just one shot behind Vincent was fellow sophomore Ali Hameed, who also earned All-Tournament Team status by shooting a 213 (72, 70, 71).
The Thunderbirds finished with three student-athletes on the Big Sky All-Tournament team.
Samuel Butler had a solid finish to the tournament, shooting a 71 in the third round to finish at 229 (76, 82, 71). The Thunderbirds’ two freshmen tied on the leaderboard, as Austin Jaramillo also finished at 229 (78, 77, 74). That put the duo in a tie for 25th.
As a team the Thunderbirds finished with a seven-under 857 (285, 290, 282). That put them three strokes behind the tournament winner Northern Colorado that shot a 10-under 854 (286, 284, 284).
UNC’s Andrew Romano was the top player on the leaderboard following the playoff, carding a 208 (70, 67, 71).
Idaho (878), Weber State (884) and Sacramento State (887) rounded out the top-five teams in the field.
Stay current on all things SUU Golf by following @SUUGolf on Twitter and Instagram, and by liking the Southern Utah Golf page on Facebook.
Read all about the Thunderbirds on www.suutbirds.com.