Austin Rustand | Posted: 31 Jan 2023 | Updated: 7 Aug 2023

Jones picks up first collegiate win; BYU takes fourth

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Zac Jones wins the Arizona Thunderbird Intercollegiate.
Carson Lundell hits a shot out of a bunker during the Arizona Intercollegiate. Zac Jones hits a tee shot during the first round of the Arizona Intercollegiate. Carson Lundell studies a yardage book during the Arizona Intercollegiate. Carson Lundell hits a tee shot during the Arizona Intercollegiate.

TUCSON, Ariz. — BYU sophomore Zach Jones secured his first collegiate win at the Arizona Thunderbirds Intercollegiate on Tuesday. BYU men’s golf (275-285-288—848) shot 16-under to finish fourth.

“Zac made it look easy out there,” said BYU director of golf Todd Miller. "He drove the ball and putted like a machine. He hit his irons flush and seemed to land the ball on his yardage every time, but the thing that impressed me most was his composure down the stretch."

Jones carded rounds of 65-69-66—200 to finish at 16-under to take home the three-shot victory over Arizona’s Cal McCoy (-13) and No. 40-ranked Ian Gilligan (-12) of Long Beach State.

"Zac’s never finished in the top-10 of a collegiate tournament and really hasn't come close to winning, but he acted like a 5th-year senior who has won five times today. It was a great week for him and I had a lot of fun watching all those putts go right into the heart of the hole."

The reigning Utah State Amateur Champion carded 20 birdies and an eagle en route to three consecutive rounds in the 60s. The sophomore’s 16-under-par showing bests his previous 54-hole mark by 13 shots and included a BYU career-low 7-under 65 in round one.

No. 11 Texas A&M (270-278-280—828) took home the team title after shooting 36-under to edge No. 22 Arizona (276-277-278—831) by three shots. Cal (278-276-287—841) finished third after posting a 23-under total with BYU (275-285-288—848) shooting 16-under to finish fourth. Long Beach State rounded out the top-5 with an 11-under total to sneak past No. 49 SMU which took sixth.

Carson Lundell shot even-par with rounds of 71-71-74—216 to finish tied for 35th, with David Timmins (69-72-76—217) finishing one shot back in a tie for 41st.

Keanu Akina tied for 45th after posting scores of 71-73-74—218 for a 2-over-par total. Tyson Shelley shot 4-over for the tournament with rounds of 70-76-74—220.

The Cougars have two weeks off before they will tee it up at the Ocean Course at Hokuala in Lihue, Hawai'i, Feb. 16-18.

Individual Leaderboard

Place Player R1 R2 R3 Total To Par
1st Zac Jones 65 69 66 200 -16
T-35 Carson Lundell 71 71 74 216 E
T-41 David Timmins 69 72 76 217 +1
T-45 Keanu Akina 71 73 74 218 +2
T-57 Tyson Shelley 70 76 74 220 +4

Team Leaderboard (Top 5)

Place Team R1 R2 R3 Total To Par
1st No. 11 Texas A&M 270 278 280 828 -36
2nd No. 22 Arizona 276 277 278 831 -33
3rd California 278 276 287 841 -23
4th BYU 275 285 288 848 -16
5th Long Beach State 285 280 288 853 -11

*15-Team Field

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