ST. GEORGE, Utah – Utah State's golf team shot a 2-over par 290 on Monday in the final round of the Pizza Hut-Pat Hicks Thunderbird Invitational, hosted by Southern Utah at the Sunbrook Golf Course.
 
The Aggies finished tied for fourth against a 12-team field as they posted a 54-hole team score of 8-under 856 (290-276-290). Utah shot a 12-under 276 on Monday to wrap up the team title at 41-under par (823). Utah Valley (838, -26) was second and host SUU (843, -21) was third.
 
Northern Colorado and Sacramento State joined Utah State in fourth place at 8-under 856. The Hornets entered the final round in eighth place, but enjoyed the biggest moving day of any team after firing a 13-under 275.
 
The tournament was the first action of the season for the Aggies, who had not competed since last March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
"It felt great to finally compete again," said senior captain Colten Cordingley, who carded a 1-under 71 in the final round for Utah State, to finish the tournament in a tie for third. "I know that me and all the guys have been eager to get back out there."
 
Cordingley finished with a career-best 54-hole score of 9-under 207 (68-68-71). He played his last three holes Monday at 3-under as he made birdie on each one.
 
"I'm taking away a lot of positives from this event," Cordingley said. "My fifth 18-hole round of golf since Halloween was played last Friday in the practice round, so going that long with only being able to practice indoors and then come and play the way I did was very exciting. I couldn't be happier with how I hit the ball.
 
"Overall, I played well, and I played very smart golf. This time of year, you can't expect a lot, and you don't have all the shots you might have mid-season. Finishing in the top three was just icing on the cake. It was a complete grind today. Finishing birdie-birdie-birdie will make the car ride back to Logan a lot shorter."
 
Utah State had two golfers place in the top 10 as fifth-year Chase Lansford shot a final-round 2-under 69. He finished the tournament with consecutive under-par finishes, including a 7-under 65 on Sunday, to tie for 10th overall at 5-under 211.
 
Senior Andy Hess tied for 34th (219, +3), redshirt junior Jesse Henderson tied for 53rd (223, +7) and freshman Javier Vazquez was 62nd (229, +13).
 
"I'm happy with the way the guys played," Cordingley said. "Everyone put together some good rounds. I love the direction we are all headed, and we're going to keep getting better and better."
 
Utah's Blake Tomlinson went wire-to-wire (201, -15) to win individual medalist honors by four strokes over teammate Jesper von Reedtz (205, -11).
 
Utah State returns to action Friday and Saturday, March 5-6, at the South Dakota-hosted Jackrabbit Invitational. The 36-hole tournament will be played at Boulder Creek Golf Club in Boulder City, Nev.
 
Fans can follow Utah State's golf program on Facebook at facebook.com/USUMensGolf and on Twitter at @USUMensGolf.

Pizza Hut-Pat Hicks Thunderbird Invitational
Date: Feb. 6-8
Host Course: Sunbrook Golf Club (St. George, Utah)
Par: 72
Yardage: 6,900

TEAM RESULTS
1. Utah – 266-281-276=823 (-41)
2. Utah Valley – 271-281-286=838 (-26)
3. Southern Utah – 282-281-280=843 (-21)
T4. UTAH STATE – 290-276-290=856 (-8)
T4. Northern Colorado – 295-281-280=856 (-8)
T4. Sacramento State – 288-293-275=856 (-8)
 
INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
1. Blake Tomlinson, Utah – 65-67-69=201 (-15)
2. Jesper von Reedtz, Utah – 67-69-69=205 (-11)
T3. COLTEN CORDINGLEY, UTAH STATE – 68-68-71=207 (-9)
T3. Javier Barcos, Utah – 67-72-68=207 (-9)
T3. Ali Hameed, Southern Utah – 70-69-68=207 (-9)
 
UTAH STATE INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
T3. Colten Cordingley – 68-68-71=207 (-9)
T10. Chase Lansford – 77-65-69=211 (-5)
T34. Andy Hess – 68-72-79=219 (+3)
T53. Jesse Henderson – 78-71-74=223 (+7)
62. Javier Vazquez – 77-76-76=229 (+13)
 
-USU-