Cougars-Utes compete in the 10th annual Deseret First Duel Rivalry Cup

MIDWAY, Utah — BYU and Utah athletic department employees and fans gathered Tuesday at Soldier Hollow Golf Course in Midway, Utah, to compete in the 10th-annual Deseret First Duel Rivalry Cup golf tournament. The tournament officially kicks off the 10th annual Deseret First Rivalry Series between the Cougars and the Utes.

The 2016 version of the Deseret First Duel Cup featured a new format with two Cougars and two Utes in each foursome playing together in a four-person scramble. A total of 212 golfers teed it up on both the gold and silvers courses at Soldier Hollow. The winning team on the gold course consisted of Dan McCay, Gipper Finau, Keven Stratton and Stewart Barlow with a 20-under-par total of 52. Collin Wilkinson, Doug Baird, Riley Gale and TJ Gale shot a 19-under-par 53 to capture first place on the silver course.

Special guest for the Cougars included director of athletics Tom Holmoe, head football coach Kalani Sitake and receivers coach Reno Mahe. Utah was represented by senior associate athletic director Nona Richardson, as well as football coaches Fred Whittingham and Sharieff Shaw among many others.

Proceeds of the 2016 Deseret First Duel Cup will benefit the Desert First Charitable Foundation, which helps purchase clothing, shoes and luggage for missionaries representing The Church of Jesus Christ or Later-day Saints.

About the Deseret Duel

The Deseret First Duel began in 2007 when BYU and Utah partnered with Deseret First Credit Union to create a series that would celebrate one of the nation’s oldest and most spirited college rivalries. The university that wins the Deseret First Duel each year has its name permanently engraved on large granite monuments located at both schools and holds bragging rights for the coming year.

BYU won the inaugural Deseret First Duel in 2008 and again in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2016. Utah claimed the title in 2009, 2013, 2014 and 2015. 

Beginning with the 2016-17 season, Deseret First Credit Union has added a new feature to the Deseret Duel. Each time the two schools compete head-to-head in one of the designated sports, the winning teams will receive $1,000 toward its student-athlete scholarship fund. The winning school for the entire season will also receive an additional $5,000 in scholarship funds.