USAFA, Colo. — Utah State golf shot a 4-under 284 on Monday during its final round of the 55th annual Air Force-hosted Gene Miranda Falcon Invitational to finish second with a team score of 5-under 859 (290-285-284) as three Aggies placed in the top 20.
 
Utah State continued its stellar play from last year when it won both the Monterrey International Invitational in the fall and the Northern Colorado Invitational in the spring as this is its third top two finish in its last eight tournaments.
 
For Utah State, it is its best finish at the Air Force Invitational since 1980 when All-American Jay Don Blake led the Aggies to the team title.
 
"We came out and played a solid round on Saturday, which gave the guys a lot of confidence," said USU head coach Dean Johansen. "This is a tough course, and we were fortunate that we have some guys that have played here before. Any time you have a chance to win a tournament, that is all you can ask for, and I was pleased with our performance."
 
Colorado State won the 22-team tournament with a 14-under 850 (286-281-283) and the Rams' Matthew Wilkinson won medalist honors with a 10-under 206 (65-70-71). USU bettered three other Mountain West schools during the tournament in San José State at 1-under (4th, 863), Wyoming at 10-over (9th, 874) and Air Force at 14-over (10th, 878). 
 
Senior Julio Arronte led Utah State as he tied for sixth with a 3-under 213 (70-71-72) for his fifth-career top 10 finish. Overall, it is his second-straight under-par finish and the sixth of his career, and he has now carded three rounds under par this season and 18 in his career.
 
Graduate John Cook made the biggest move of the day by an Aggie as he tied his career-low round with a 6-under 66 to tie for 15th with a 1-under 215. Cook began the tournament with a 7-over 79 and was tied for 87th after the first round. He then shot a 2-under 70 during his second round and was tied for 46th after 36 holes. For Cook, it is his third career under-par finish and his fifth top 20 placing. He also now has eight career rounds in the 60s and 15 career rounds under par.
 
Sophomore Enrique Karg tied for 19th place for Utah State at even par 216 (72-72-72), which is his best-ever 54-hole score and his fourth-career top 20 finish. Senior Esteban Jaramillo tied for 34th for USU at 4-over 220 (74-72-74) and graduate Cole Enlow tied for 78th at 12-over 228 (74-74-80).
 
Utah State will continue its fall season next week as it competes in the Colorado-hosted Mark Simpson Invitational on Monday and Tuesday, Sept. 30-Oct. 1.
 
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.
 
TEAM RESULTS
1. Colorado State – 286-281-283=850 (-14)
2. Utah State – 290-285-284=859 (-5)
3. UC Davis – 303-275-283=861 (-3)
4. San Jose State – 291-278-294=863 (-1)
5. Gonzaga – 299-289-277=865 (+1)
 
INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
1. Matthew Wilkinson, Colorado State – 65-70-71=206 (-10)
2. Brady Kaufmann, SIU Edwardsville – 71-68-70=209 (-7)
3. Ethan Flynn, Gonzaga – 72-72-66=210 (-6)
4. Jaren Calkins, Wyoming – 73-68-70=211 (-5)
5. Ralf Kivi, Colorado State – 71-72-69=212 (-4)
 
UTAH STATE INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
T6. Julio Arronte, Utah State – 70-71-72=213 (-3)
T15. John Cook – 79-70-66=215 (-1)
T19. Enrique Karg – 72-72-72=216 (E)
T34. Esteban Jaramillo – 74-72-74=220 (+4)
T78. Cole Enlow – 74-74-80=228 (+12)