Claiming the Trophy

UNC men prevail by 1 for their first team victory of season

By Gary Baines - 2/12/2019

The University of Northern Colorado men's golf team, which went four years without a team title in a major tournament from 2014 to 2018, didn't have to wait nearly so long to return to the victory circle this time around.

The Bears notched their second team victory in less than 10 months on Tuesday when they claimed the championship in the 11-school Pizza Hut Pat Hicks Invitational at Sunbrook Golf Club in St. George, Utah.

UNC went 282-290 for a two-day total of 572, which was one stroke better than runner-up Middle Tennessee State.

The Bears put two players in the top five individually, with senior Joshua Matz placing fourth at 140, two strokes back of the co-champions, and freshman Jack Castiglia finishing fifth at 142. Other results for UNC were junior Coby Welch (144, 13th place), senior Li Chen (146, 18th place) and junior Nick Sharp (155, 45th place).

Northern Colorado's last team victory before Tuesday came in the Big Sky Conference Championship in late April.

PIZZA HUT PAT HICKS INVITATIONAL

Feb. 11-12, 2019 (final) in St. George, Utah    

1. (out of 11 teams) Northern Colorado 82-290--572

4. Joshua Matt 68-72--140

5. Jack Castiglia 72-70--142

13. Coby Welch 70-74--144

18. Li Chen 72-74--146

45. Nick Sharp 80-75--155

Also

52. Marcus Tait 77-80--157