Courtesy of Utah State

MARICOPA, Arizona — Sophomore Enrique Karg shot a final round 3-under 69 to tie for medalist honors at 12-under 204 (65-70-69) at the 2025 GOLFWEEK National Golf Invitational Championship the concluded here on Sunday at the Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club.

Karg, who posted back-to-back bogeys to finish the tournament, won the outright title on the first playoff hole with a par against Richmond’s Carson Baez, who bogeyed the par-4, 463-yard 18th hole.

Utah State shot a final round 2-under 286 and finished in second place at 19-under 845 (277-282-286), which is the second-best 54-hole score in program history, trailing only the 29-under 835 carded at the 2023 Monterrey Collegiate Classic in Mexico.

Ohio State won the team championship at 26-under 838 (278-280-280). Oregon State finished third at 7-under 857 (290-279-288). Rhode Island placed fourth at 1-under 863 (290-281-292) and West Virginia rounded out the top five at even par 864 (287-281-296).

Utah State entered the tournament ranked seventh out of the 10 teams in the field.

“We had a chance to win this tournament, and that was awesome,” said USU head coach Dean Johansen. “We were in the running on the back nine on Sunday, which is all you can ask for in golf. We came into this tournament with a lot of confidence and played that way all weekend.

“This is a special team. We have three seniors that delayed turning pro so they could come back and play in this tournament. The pride and care factor that trio has for this program has been unbelievable to witness.”

With the individual title, Karg will receive an exemption into the Southeastern Amateur played at the Country Club of Columbus in Columbus, Georgia, in late June.

“I am so happy for Enrique. It’s not very often that a player wins the playoff after finishing their final round bogey, bogey. That was big time. We are excited for Enrique to participate in the Southeastern Amateur next month. Him wearing the Utah State brand at that tournament is monumental for this program and I can’t speak highly enough about him and this team,” added Johansen.

Overall, it is Karg’s second career individual title as he tied for medalist honors at the 2024 Northern Colorado Invitational. He is just the 11th Aggie in program history to win a tournament and one of just five Aggies to win two or more titles joining Jay Don Blake (16), Todd Tanner (2), Tanner Higham (2) and Seokwon Jeon (2). It is the 30th time in program history that an Aggie has won at least a share of a tournament title.

Karg, who posted his sixth-career top 20 finish, carded six birdies and three bogeys during his final round. It is the second time this year and third time in his career he has posted an under-par finish. With his 3-under 69 on Sunday, he has now posted four rounds in the 60s this year and seven in his career. He also now has 13 rounds under par in his career, including eight this season.

Karg’s 12-under 204 during the National Golf Invitational Championship is his best-ever 54-hole score and best under-par finish. His 12-under par is also tied for the fifth-best 54-hole score in program history.

Graduate John Cook finished the tournament tied for 12th at 1-under 215 (73-65-77). It is his fifth under-par finish this year and the seventh of his career. It is the fourth time this year and eighth time in his career he has notched a top 20 finish. Cook concludes his career with 11 rounds in the 60s, including four this season, and 24 rounds under par, including 10 this year.

Senior Julio Arronte tied for 17th at even par 216 (67-75-74) for his 13th career top 20 placing, including his seventh this season. With his opening round 67, Arronte concludes his career with 12 rounds in the 60s, including six this year, and 30 rounds under par, including 15 this season.

Senior Esteban Jaramillo tied for 28th at 3-over 219 (74-72-73). Freshman Toby Heider tied for 36th at 6-over 222 (72-80-70). With his final round 2-under 70, Heider now has two rounds under par this season.

Utah State was participating in the postseason for just the second time in program history, joining the 1981 team that competed in the NCAA Tournament.

For more information on the Utah State golf program, follow the Aggies on Twitter at @USUMensGolf, Facebook at USUMensGolf and Instagram at USUGolf.

GOLFWEEK National Golf Invitational Championship
Date: May 16-18
Location: Maricopa, Arizona
Host Course: Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club
Par: 72
Yardage: 7,375
Live Scoring: Golfstat.com

TEAM RESULTS
1. Ohio State – 278-280-280=838 (-26)
2. Utah State – 277-282-286=845 (-19)
3. Oregon State – 290-279-288=857 (-7)
4. Rhode Island – 290-281-292=863 (-1)
5. West Virginia – 287-281-296=864 (E)
6. Richmond – 289-289-289=867 (+3)
7. Texas State – 292-286-290=868 (+4)
8. Stetson – 281-300-288=869 (+5)
9. Utah Valley – 289-295-287=871 (+7)
10. George Mason – 286-303-284=873 (+9)

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
T1. Enrique Karg, Utah State – 65-70-69=204 (-12)
T1. Carson Baez, Richmond – 67-69-68=204 (-12)
T3. Vaughn McMeans, George Mason – 69-72-67=208 (-8)
T3. Joe Wilson IV, Ohio State – 70-67-71=208 (-8)
T3. Bradley Smolinski, Oregon State – 68-67-73=208 (-8)

UTAH STATE INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
T1. Enrique Karg – 65-70-69=204 (-12)
T12. John Cook – 73-65-77=215 (-1)
T17. Julio Arronte – 67-75-74=216 (E)
T28. Esteban Jaramillo – 74-72-73=219 (+3)
T36. Toby Heider – 72-80-70=222 (+6)