SANTA CLARA, Calif. – The Santa Clara men's golf team returns to tournament play Monday competing in the 13-team Utah Ogio Invitational. The event will span two days and play 54 holes at the 7,130-yard, par-71 Arnold Palmer designed Jeremy Ranch and Country Club in Park City, Utah.
This event will have a different look than most for the Broncos as the Ogio Invitational will be a six-count-five team scoring event. Santa Clara's last team win came in a six-count-five tournament on March 8, 2011 in the Long Beach State Del Walker Invitational. They have played one such event since, that coming in the same 2011 spring season.
The Broncos will compete against tournament host Utah, Arkansas Little Rock, Boise State, Cal State Bakersfield, Pacific, Seattle, South Dakota State, Southern Utah, Texas-Arlington, Utah State, Utah Valley and Weber State.
Head coach Rob Miller's lineup includes Carlos Briones, Gio Gandionco, Hayden Shieh, Tyler Kertson, Evan McLeod and Drew Miller.
Briones is coming off one of his best collegiate tournaments after a third-place tie at the Nick Watney Invitational on Sept. 30. Briones scored all three rounds under par and finished with a 7-under 209 for his best career finish. He has come under par in four of his six rounds this fall and paces the squad with a 71.33 stroke average.
Gandionco earned his seventh career top-20 finish by tying for 19th at the Nick Watney Invitational with rounds of 70, 73 and 74 for a 1-over 217.
Playing his first season of collegiate golf, Shieh has been stellar. All six of his rounds have been scored at 74 or lower and he earned a top-10 finish in his first career event by placing in a tie for ninth at the Saint Mary's Invitational on Sept. 16. He posted a 2-over 218 with rounds of 70, 74 and 74 for a 23rd place tie at the Nick Watney Invitational.
Kertson carded his finest score of the fall season with a 3-under 69 in the final round of the Nick Watney Invitational. Last season's WCC Freshman of the Year looks to carry the momentum of that final round into this week's event.
Live scoring for the Utah Ogio Invitational will be available at www.golfstat.com with complete results and a tournament recap posted on SantaClaraBroncos.com.
TOURNAMENT INFORMATION
Name: Utah Ogio Invitational
Dates (Site): Monday-Tuesday, Oct. 6-7 (Park City, Utah)
Host: University of Utah
Field (13 teams): Arkansas Little Rock, Boise State, Cal State Bakersfield, Pacific, Santa Clara, Seattle, South Dakota State, Southern Utah, Texas-Arlington, Utah, Utah State, Utah Valley and Weber State.
Details: The event will span two days and feature 54 holes of stroke play. A shotgun start format will be used on both days of competition with team's teeing off at 8:00 a.m. (PT). Monday will play 36 holes with the final 18 set for Tuesday.
Course: The Jeremy Golf & Country Club
Yardage-Par: 7,130-yards, Par 71
Course Website: www.thejeremy.com
Course Number: (435) 649-2700
Live Scoring: www.golfstat.com
