Tomlinson Earns Top-10 Finish at 2022 Pac-12 Championships

SAMAMMISH, Wash. – Utah golf closed out competition at the 2022 Pac-12 Championships on Wednesday, finishing T-8th with a team score of 1463 (+43). Senior Blake Tomlinson led the Utes carding his second lowest score of the championship (70, -1) and finished the tournament with a score of 284 (E), climbing the leaderboard six spots for a T-6th finish. His 72-hole score is the third lowest at a conference championship on record at Utah.

"I'm really happy for Blake. To finish sixth in the conference championship is awesome! His week had a few ups and downs, but he fought really hard and I know it means a lot to him and our program," head coach Garrett Clegg said. "Today we just couldn't quite get things going. Our par five play cost us all week and today it hurt us as well. We just couldn't seem to get out of our own way. But now we come home and wait for our NCAA Regional assignment. We have a lot to clean up in a week, but we will get to work!"

Starting on the 10th tee for the second consecutive day, Tomlinson turned in a 1-over (36) after bogeying a pair and picking up a birdie on his first nine. Making the turn, Tomlinson birdied the first but followed with a bogey two holes later to put him 1-over on the round. Tomlinson was able to dip back under par finishing strong with a birdie on the par four fifth and ninth, the hole he aced just a day ago.

Tomlinson became the third Ute to finish in the top-10 at the Pac-12 Championships, joining Mitchell Schow who finished T-8th last season and Kyler Dunkle who finished second in 2019.

Braxton Watts earned a top-30 finish, but penciled just a single birdie in his final round and would go on to post a 79 (+8) with five bogeys and two doubles on the card. Watts led the Utes for most of the tournament, but his final round would give him a tournament total of 292 (+8) and finish T-28th. This is the highest finish by a freshman in program history at the Pac-12 Championship. 

Javier Barcos endured a tough round, scrambling trying to save par but would end up tallying seven bogeys in his final round. Barcos would birdie the par five seventh and par four 17th to turn in a 76 (+5) and end the championship with a total of 294 (+10) and place T-41st.

Tristan Mandur climbed the board nine spots and carded an even par 71 in his final round to finish the championships with a score of 294 (+10), good for T-38th. Mandur started off hot with a birdie on the first three holes but would bogey the 18th to make the turn at 2-under (34). Those first three birdies were the only red numbers Mandur would collect on the day, bogeying a pair of holes on his second nine to finish level par.

Oscar Maxfield showed some consistent play over the three-day tournament and shot his second consecutive 75 (+4) to wrap up his conference championship. Maxfield started off his final round slow with a couple bogeys through the first four holes and saw a tough stretch bogeying the first three holes after making the turn. A birdie would follow on the par four fourth and would go on to par out to shoot 2-over on each nine. Maxfield finished the tournament shooting 305 (+21), good for 65th.

Martín León carded his best round of the championship, picking up four birdies, four bogeys and a dreaded triple to turn in a score of 74 (+3). Battling throughout his final round, Leon managed to shoot a 37 (+1) and 36 (+1) on each side. Overall, Leon totaled a 319 (+35) to climb one spot and finish in 70th.

The teams T-8th place finish is the second-best finish since the Utes joined the conference of champions and the team score of 1463 (+43) is the fourth-lowest at a 72-hole conference championship on record at Utah.

Up Next
All eyes now turn to the NCAA Division I Men's Golf Selection Show which will take place on May 4, at 2 p.m. MT. The show will be aired on the Golf Channel as the Utes look to make an appearance for just the fourth time in program history.

LIVE SCORING
Live scoring for the Pac-12 Championships is available on GolfStat.com. Fans can also follow along on social media (Twitter: @UtesGolf | Instagram: @UtesGolf).