WINDSOR, Colorado — Due to inclement weather, the final round of the Northern Colorado Spring Invitational was canceled Tuesday morning, giving Utah State its second tournament win this year and its 23rd tournament title in program history.
 
Utah State won the seven-team Northern Colorado Spring Invitational by 14 strokes as it shot a 21-under 555 (274-281) during its 36 holes on Monday at the par-72, 7,872-yard Raindance National Golf Course & Resort. Utah Valley finished second with a 7-under 569 (289-280) and Weber State placed third at 8-over 584 (288-296).
 
"This might be the strongest first round I have seen from all five of our players in my coaching career," said USU head coach Dean Johansen. "They have been working hard in the ways we can with limited opportunities at home to practice on grass. I was impressed with our players ability to play through the extreme wind conditions in the second round.
 
"Getting a second win this season will hopefully give us some confidence prior to heading into the tremendously talented Mountain West Championship."
 
Last fall, Utah State won the inaugural Monterrey Collegiate Classic with a school-record 29-under 835 and with this win it has now won multiple tournaments in the same season for the first time since the 1995-96 campaign. That year, it posted wins at the Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate and at the Grand Canyon Classic.  
 
All five Utah State golfers were among the top eight finishers at the Northern Colorado Spring Invitational.
 
Freshman Enrique Karg tied for medalist honors at 8-under 136 after carding rounds of 69 and 67 to win his first-ever tournament. Karg is just the 11th Aggie in program history to win a tournament and the first since Colten Cordingley tied for first at the 2021 UC San Diego Invitational. Overall, it is the 29th time in program history that an Aggie has won at least a share of a tournament title.
 
For Karg, it is his first-career under-par finish and first-career top-10 placing, and his third top-20 finish this year. He has now shot under par five times this season, including three rounds in the 60s, and his second round of 5-under 67 is his career low. Karg had 12 birdies and four bogeys during his 36 holes.
 
Fellow freshman Ashton McArthur tied for fourth place along with junior teammate Julio Arronte Sanchez at 5-under 139. McArthur had rounds of 68 and 71, while Sanchez had rounds of 70 and 69.
 
For McArthur, it is his best collegiate finish and his second top-10 placing as he tied for ninth at the Fresno State-hosted Nick Watney Invitational last fall. It is also his third under-par finish of the season. He has now carded eight rounds under par this year, including four rounds in the 60s. 
 
For Sanchez, his tie for fourth is his second-best tournament finish this season and in his career. It is also his third top-10 placing this season and the fourth of his career and the third time this year and fourth time in his career he has finished a tournament under par. Overall, he has now shot under par nine times this year and 13 times in his career, including six rounds in the 60s this season.
 
Senior John Cook and junior Esteban Jaramillo finished the tournament tied for seventh at 1-under 143. Cook carded rounds of 71 and 72, while Jaramillo had rounds of 69 and 74.
 
This is Cook's best-ever tournament finish and his first-ever top-10 placing. It is also the second under-par finish of his career. For Cook, his opening round 71 was his fourth round under par this year and the 12th of his career.
 
As for Jaramillo, this is his sixth-career top-10 finish including his first this season. It is also his second under-par finish this year and the fifth of his career. His 3-under 69 during his first 18 holes was his fifth round in the 60s this year and the ninth of his career. It was also his sixth round under par this season and the 19th of his career.
 
Utah State will return to action next weekend as it travels to Creswell, Oregon, to compete in the 2024 Mountain West Championship, which will be held at the Emerald Valley Golf Club.
 
For more information on the Utah State golf program, follow the Aggies on Twitter at @USUMensGolf, on Facebook at USUMensGolf and on Instagram at USUGolf.
 
Northern Colorado Spring Invitational
Date: April 15-16
Host Course: Raindance National Golf Course & Resort
Par: 72
Yardage: 7,872
 
TEAM RESULTS
1. Utah State – 274-281=555 (-21)
2. Utah Valley – 289-280=569 (-7)
3. Weber State – 288-296=584 (+8)
4. Northern Colorado – 292-293=585 (+9)
5. Texas-Rio Grande Valley – 294-293=587 (+11)
 
INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
T1. Enrique Karg, Utah State – 67-69=136 (-8)
T1. Zac Erskine, Utah Valley – 69-67=136 (-8)
3. Derek Lekkerkerk, Colorado State – 70-68=138 (-6)
T4. Ashton McArthur, Utah State – 68-71=139 (-5)
T4. Julio Arronte Sanchez, Utah State – 70-69=139 (-5)
 
UTAH STATE INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
T1. Enrique Karg – 67-69=136 (-8)
T4. Ashton McArthur – 68-71=139 (-5)
T4. Julio Arronte Sanchez – 70-69=139 (-5)
T7. John Cook – 71-72=143 (-1)
T7. Esteban Jaramillo – 69-74=143 (-1)