Upcoming Event: Men's Golf versus Southwestern on January 26, 2026
Men's Golf
vs Southwestern
The University of Utah Athletics
Monday, January 26
Los Angeles, Cali.
University of Utah
vs
Southwestern
Photo by: John Zelinka/Utah Athletics
Utah Golf Opens Spring Session at the Southwestern Invitational
1/24/2026 10:42 AM | Men's Golf
After a strong fall, the nationally ranked Utah golf team heads to North Ranch Country Club to compete in the 47th annual Southwestern Invitational
TOURNAMENT INFORMATION:
Dates: Jan. 26-28
Location: North Ranch Country Club | Westlake Village, Calif.
Par/Yardage: Par 72, 6,800 yards | Lake & Oaks Courses
THIS WEEK
After an eventful fall session, the No. 19 Utah Golf team heads west to compete in its first tournament of the spring—the 47th annual Southwestern Invitational at North Ranch Country Club, hosted by the Pepperdine Waves.
Utah returns to work after a successful fall, during which the program secured three top-10 finishes, including a second-place finish at the Tindall Invitational and a third-place finish at the inaugural Wohali Classic.
For the Utes' early-season success, the program was ranked as the No. 1 team in the country in Clippd's first team ranking of the 2025-26 season. Moreover, Utah's Gabriel Palacios earned a No. 1 individual ranking in the same season-opening ranking. The pair of feats marked the first time in program history either an individual or the team had been ranked first in the nation.
Entering the Southwestern, Palacios leads Utah with an adjusted scoring average of 66.8 through 12 rounds (on track for the lowest scoring average in program history). The junior from Guatemala is currently ranked as the nation's No. 5 player after ending the fall with two top-three finishes, including a 14-under individual win at the Tindall Invitational.
Palacios wasn't the only Ute to have fall success, as fifth-year Davis Johnson secured his own individual win at the inaugural Wohali Classic. At the Wohali, Johnson fired off a third-round 5-under (66) to secure a 9-under (204) finish, tying Arizona State's Connor Williams for the individual crown.
Sergio Jimenez had his best performance of the fall at the Tindall. The junior from Spain finished the tournament as Utah's second-highest individual finisher in third place with a final 54-hole score of 10-under (206).
Utah's starting five includes a new face in Jack Jerge. Jerge, a junior, joins the Utes for the spring after spending his sophomore season with the USC Trojans.
With USC in 2024-25, Jerge started all 11 tournaments, with a scoring average of 72.3 strokes. The Pleasant Hill, California native recorded three top 25 finishes, including an eighth-place, 5-under finish at the season-opening Southern Dunes Invitational. Prior to joining the Trojans, Jerge spent his freshman season at St. Mary's where he earned an All-WCC Honorable Mention nod with four top-15 finishes on the season.
2026 will be Utah's first time competing in the Southwestern Invitational despite the tournament being in its 47th year of play.
Last year's Southwestern Invitational champion was the Texas Longhorns, who finished at 8-under. The highest returning finisher from last year's tournament is the San Diego State Aztecs, who took second place in 2025 with a 7-under team total.
THE FIELD
The Utes are one of 13 teams competing at the Southwestern Invitational:
UTAH'S LINEUP
For Utah's spring opener, head coach Garrett Clegg has chosen the following lineup:
Gabriel Palacios
Sergio Jimenez
Brandon Robison
Davis Johnson
Jack Jerge
Additionally, Utah's Ivan Enguita will be competing as an individual.
COACHES THOUGHTS
On playing in the Southwestern Invitational…
"We're excited to get the spring season started. We're starting a couple of weeks earlier than usual, which is a lot of fun for our guys. The Southwestern is new to us. None of our players have competed on this golf course before and the track is newly renovated, so it'll be fresh for many of the teams competing," said Clegg, "The field for this tournament is a collection of some outstanding golf programs from the west, and beyond, so it'll be a great test for our team."
On the addition of Jack Jerge…
"We added a new player to our program in Jack Jerge, who transferred in at the start of the semester, and we are thrilled to have him on our team. He's a junior who has a very solid record with a number of high-level tournaments under his belt. Jack is a huge boost to our program and fits right in with the rest of our team."
TOURNAMENT DETAILS
The Southwestern Invitational will span 54 holes across three days, with one 18-hole round played each day. The tournament will begin with 18 holes of action on Monday, Jan. 26 and conclude with a final round on Wednesday, Jan. 28.
LIVE SCORING
To keep up with the results at the Southwestern Invitational fans can visit Scoreboard. Links to live scoring on each day can be found on UtahUtes.com.
FOLLOW THE UTES
For an inside look at the Utah Golf program, including tournament, roster and news updates, fans can follow the Utes on social media (Twitter: @UtesGolf | Instagram: @UtesGolf).
DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL MOBILE APP OF THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH TODAY – UTAH 360
Dates: Jan. 26-28
Location: North Ranch Country Club | Westlake Village, Calif.
Par/Yardage: Par 72, 6,800 yards | Lake & Oaks Courses
THIS WEEK
After an eventful fall session, the No. 19 Utah Golf team heads west to compete in its first tournament of the spring—the 47th annual Southwestern Invitational at North Ranch Country Club, hosted by the Pepperdine Waves.
Utah returns to work after a successful fall, during which the program secured three top-10 finishes, including a second-place finish at the Tindall Invitational and a third-place finish at the inaugural Wohali Classic.
For the Utes' early-season success, the program was ranked as the No. 1 team in the country in Clippd's first team ranking of the 2025-26 season. Moreover, Utah's Gabriel Palacios earned a No. 1 individual ranking in the same season-opening ranking. The pair of feats marked the first time in program history either an individual or the team had been ranked first in the nation.
Entering the Southwestern, Palacios leads Utah with an adjusted scoring average of 66.8 through 12 rounds (on track for the lowest scoring average in program history). The junior from Guatemala is currently ranked as the nation's No. 5 player after ending the fall with two top-three finishes, including a 14-under individual win at the Tindall Invitational.
Palacios wasn't the only Ute to have fall success, as fifth-year Davis Johnson secured his own individual win at the inaugural Wohali Classic. At the Wohali, Johnson fired off a third-round 5-under (66) to secure a 9-under (204) finish, tying Arizona State's Connor Williams for the individual crown.
Sergio Jimenez had his best performance of the fall at the Tindall. The junior from Spain finished the tournament as Utah's second-highest individual finisher in third place with a final 54-hole score of 10-under (206).
Utah's starting five includes a new face in Jack Jerge. Jerge, a junior, joins the Utes for the spring after spending his sophomore season with the USC Trojans.
With USC in 2024-25, Jerge started all 11 tournaments, with a scoring average of 72.3 strokes. The Pleasant Hill, California native recorded three top 25 finishes, including an eighth-place, 5-under finish at the season-opening Southern Dunes Invitational. Prior to joining the Trojans, Jerge spent his freshman season at St. Mary's where he earned an All-WCC Honorable Mention nod with four top-15 finishes on the season.
2026 will be Utah's first time competing in the Southwestern Invitational despite the tournament being in its 47th year of play.
Last year's Southwestern Invitational champion was the Texas Longhorns, who finished at 8-under. The highest returning finisher from last year's tournament is the San Diego State Aztecs, who took second place in 2025 with a 7-under team total.
THE FIELD
The Utes are one of 13 teams competing at the Southwestern Invitational:
| #19 University of Utah (-) | #29 San Diego State (-) | #47 SMU (-) |
| #21 UCLA (-) | #59 University of San Diego (-) | #56 Loyola Marymount (-) |
| #15 Pepperdine (-) | #17 University of New Mexico (-) | #69 San Jose State (-) |
| #100 Colorado State (-) | #60 UNLV (-) | #24 USC (-) |
| #41 Washington (-) | ||
UTAH'S LINEUP
For Utah's spring opener, head coach Garrett Clegg has chosen the following lineup:
Gabriel Palacios
Sergio Jimenez
Brandon Robison
Davis Johnson
Jack Jerge
Additionally, Utah's Ivan Enguita will be competing as an individual.
COACHES THOUGHTS
On playing in the Southwestern Invitational…
"We're excited to get the spring season started. We're starting a couple of weeks earlier than usual, which is a lot of fun for our guys. The Southwestern is new to us. None of our players have competed on this golf course before and the track is newly renovated, so it'll be fresh for many of the teams competing," said Clegg, "The field for this tournament is a collection of some outstanding golf programs from the west, and beyond, so it'll be a great test for our team."
On the addition of Jack Jerge…
"We added a new player to our program in Jack Jerge, who transferred in at the start of the semester, and we are thrilled to have him on our team. He's a junior who has a very solid record with a number of high-level tournaments under his belt. Jack is a huge boost to our program and fits right in with the rest of our team."
TOURNAMENT DETAILS
The Southwestern Invitational will span 54 holes across three days, with one 18-hole round played each day. The tournament will begin with 18 holes of action on Monday, Jan. 26 and conclude with a final round on Wednesday, Jan. 28.
LIVE SCORING
To keep up with the results at the Southwestern Invitational fans can visit Scoreboard. Links to live scoring on each day can be found on UtahUtes.com.
FOLLOW THE UTES
For an inside look at the Utah Golf program, including tournament, roster and news updates, fans can follow the Utes on social media (Twitter: @UtesGolf | Instagram: @UtesGolf).
DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL MOBILE APP OF THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH TODAY – UTAH 360
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Players Mentioned
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