Sept. 15, 2008

Ron Moore Invitational Day 1 Results

DENVER, Colo. -- The University of Utah golf team shot a first-round 298 and a second-round 294 for a first-day total of 592 Monday at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club in Denver University's Ron Moore Invitational. The Utes were 16 strokes over par and finished the first two rounds in ninth place in the team standings.

Sophomore Chase Hite (Tucson, Ariz.) led the way for the Utes, registering a pair of 71's during the first two rounds for a two-under-par first-day total of 142 to take sole possession of 13th place in the overall individual standings.

Jeff Kitches, a sophomore from Salt Lake City, tied for 35th place with a first-day total of 147 (75-72) was three strokes over par. Senior Chance Cota (San Diego, Calif.) finished the day in a 55th-place tie at eight-over-par, 152.

Freshman Joe Webber (Sandy, Utah) finished one stroke back of Cota and is tied for 63rd place with a score of 153 (78-75) heading into tomorrow's final round. Sophomore Salt Lake City native Mike Branca was a single stroke behind Webber and now finds himself in a 71st-place tie at 154 (76-78).

Colorado is in first place after the first day with rounds for a total of 550 (276-274). The Buffaloes finished 26 strokes under par for a 16-shot lead over second-place Air Force, which shot a 10-under par 566 to finish the first 36 holes in second place.

The final round of the Ron Moore Invitational begins tomorrow with a shotgun start at 8 a.m.